Awelye - Body Paint

The artwork was painted by Emily at her home with materials being supplied to her by her niece the artist Barbara Weir. Boomerang Art bought this painting from Barbara Weir.

This artwork is without doubt the most significant painting I was able to buy and add to my 24 year collection. It is most likely the largest work of art created by this elderly aboriginal artist who did her first painting on canvas in her eighties.

When Emily paints 'Awelye Atnwengerrp (women's ceremony)', she employs a series of lines and symbols and often criss-crossed patterns. These are frequently laid one on top of another in colours that are expressive, colourful and dynamic. Her patterns originate in body design and were an integral part of ceremonies. Each one of the Pwerle sisters has developed a unique style and Emily's work is distinctive despite the close contact with her painting sisters. The explosive nature of the artist's painting encapsulates the way of life that survived more than 40,000 years to this day. Emily is now in her nineties and she can recall and produce notions of those days and nights where ceremony was an integral part of her life. This contact with a stone-age culture is however rapidly diminishing - but may still be made through the work of Emily and her sisters.