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Denise Ngwarraye Bonney – My Grandmothers Country

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories belong.

Denise paints ‘Tijamburra’, her Grandmothers country.

“This is my Mothers Mothers country, out near Canteen Creek, we go hunting  for wild onions, goannas, echidnas and sugar bag honey in the trees. I like to hunt in my country, there is water all year round even if it look dry, we follow the bird tracks to know where to dig and then we find water.

This painting is after rain, many grasses are out, but the riverbed is still sandy.”

Jessie Ngwarraye Ross – My Country

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories belong.
Jessie’s landscapes beautifully communicate the rich knowledge she possesses of medicinal plants and country, the heart of her culture.
Jessie’s has painted her country, Ampilatwatja. The brightly coloured flowers and small bushes are bush medicine and are still used within the community.
Jessie’s predominant theme in her paintings is ‘strong bush medicine’, demonstrating a deep connection to her country. Her work pays homage to the significance and use of traditional bush medicine, allowing an insight into her community. Yet underneath the iridescent surface, there is an underlying sense that there is more to this landscape than meets the eye. In keeping with the religious laws, Jessie reveals only a small amount of knowledge to the uninitiated.

Kathleen Nanima Rambler – Mulangke Aherne (beautiful land)

My country. When I go hunting out bush, as we drive along the road towards the hill you can see the beautiful land and the flowers blooming on the side of the road, and near the hills, even the beautiful gum trees. It makes me proud

Rosie Kemarre Morton – My Father’s Country and Bush Medicine

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint ‘altyerr’ dreaming stories. The artists paint their country where those stories sit.
Rosie has painted her Father’s country, where she can always find bush tucker and bush medicine. She is very happy when out bush hunting and gathering, as it brings back memories of her childhood when she used to live traditionally off of the land with her family.
Rosie uses these hunting trips as her inspiration for her artworks, each one reflecting the layered landscape and various colours as she has seen them. “They are always changing, with the light of day and the seasons of the year
Rosie enjoys and understands the importance of painting bush medicine plants. They help in the healing of her people and it keeps the tradition and knowledge strong. These particular plants are very plentiful after rain and can be used for numerous conditions, such as skin irritations, flu, coughs and infections.
Rosie’s dreaming is the “Araluta” or kangaroo plant. This bush is a rich source of food for the kangaroos and keeps them fat and healthy and good for hunting.

Alana Ngwarraye Holmes – Wild Flowers

Out in the plain after the rain the wild flowers grow and bloom, I see these flowers on my mother’s country.

The plant has pretty flowers, we take them home and show them to the children.  They are a beautiful purple, yellow and pink colour.