Tatum is drawn to painting jamerndel (ant hills, or termite mounds) as they are significant to Gija Country but also because of their meaning to her and her family.
Her ancestors were placed in jamerndel of a particular colour when they passed away, and her Jaru side family believe anthills are for healing. “You get rubbed down with the anthill, after you wash it off you feel refreshed, it takes away bad vibe also cold sick too.”
Tatum is drawn to painting jamerndel (ant hills, or termite mounds) as they are significant to Gija Country but also because of their meaning to her and her family.
Her ancestors were placed in jamerndel of a particular colour when they passed away, and her Jaru side family believe anthills are for healing. “You get rubbed down with the anthill, after you wash it off you feel refreshed, it takes away bad vibe also cold sick too.”
Tatum is drawn to painting jamerndel (ant hills, or termite mounds) as they are significant to Gija Country but also because of their meaning to her and her family.
Her ancestors were placed in jamerndel of a particular colour when they passed away, and her Jaru side family believe anthills are for healing. “You get rubbed down with the anthill, after you wash it off you feel refreshed, it takes away bad vibe also cold sick too.”
Different Ant Hills are use for different things
The RED is used for healing. Burning new born babies keeping them strong. & Was used for burial in the early days for we had cemetery our ancestors were put in An Hills in Red ones
The GREEN & GREY is used for food source- we get bush Honey from
The YELLOW & ORANGE are used as Bush Medicine. as Panadol & for aches and pains. Its used as a rub & also to drink
“Well this one you know, our land, well before, no Gardiya (whitefella) was coming before… so I drew this one, like our ancestors from the Ngarrangarni (dreamtime), they lived in the cave, that’s their home, from long time before.
And this now (the rest of the painting), this is Mabel Downs today. And, before they didn’t have houses like that, and then Gardiya been coming along, and we been start to meet up with Gardiya. Our people meet up with Gardiya and Gardiya been build a house like that for us.
This painting was inspired by Monica Cann’s grandfather- Mr. Rammey Ramsey- senior Gija man of Jungoora skin, whose ancestral Country lies to the west of Bedford Downs near Elgee Cliffs.
Ramsey said: “This is my place called Warlawoon. They named me Warlawoon for my Country here. There is a Dreamtime waterhole there, a place where many fish live.
This is my mother and father’s Country. I own that Country from my mother and father. Lots of people used to live here with my parents.”
Monica’s grandfather Mr. Rammey Ramsay intimate knowledge of waterholes, dreaming, camping and ceremonial sites across Warlawoon Country inform the composition of his paintings. Although minimalist is appearance his works are laden with narrative.
Ramsey now lives in Bow River. His work is forever infused with the memory of Warlawoon Country together with a longing for Country his work teases out the complexities of Gija world-views and the impact of pastoral occupation on his land.
“When I go out hunting I always like to see the colour in the trees, the light, the dark and the bush medicine plants growing on the sand hills. The colours change at sunrise and sunset. I like hunting and seeing my country.”
I love to paint since childhood. My paintings show my deep love for my country and the beauty I see.
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories belong.
The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories, the artists paint their country where those stories sit.
This painting shows the layered landscape of Alyawarr, Central Australia. Knowing your country is an important part of living in a remote community like Ampilatwatja. Knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, knowing where there is ‘soakage’ (where you can dig for water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.
“This is my country, my view of country.”
This painting was inspired by Monica Cann’s grandfather- Mr. Rammey Ramsey- senior Gija man of Jungoora skin, whose ancestral Country lies to the west of Bedford Downs near Elgee Cliffs.
Ramsey said: “This is my place called Warlawoon. They named me Warlawoon for my Country here. There is a Dreamtime waterhole there, a place where many fish live.
This is my mother and father’s Country. I own that Country from my mother and father. Lots of people used to live here with my parents.”
Monica’s grandfather Mr. Rammey Ramsay intimate knowledge of waterholes, dreaming, camping and ceremonial sites across Warlawoon Country inform the composition of his paintings. Although minimalist is appearance his works are laden with narrative.
Ramsey now lives in Bow River. His work is forever infused with the memory of Warlawoon Country together with a longing for Country his work teases out the complexities of Gija world-views and the impact of pastoral occupation on his land.
