Artists of Ampilatwatja

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Janella Kemarre Ross – View Of Country

This 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.”

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

 

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Alec Pula Lewis – View of Country

Alec was born at McDonald Downs Station. He grew up there with his family living traditionally on the land.  Alec did not attend school, he moved between different communities with his family. 

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.”

The artists of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

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Gunderson Kemarre Lewis – Great Grandmothers Country

I paint my Great Grandmothers country around Canteen Creek. Long time ago she hunted around this soakage in this country. When I paint, I paint that country, the soakage the bushflowers the sandhills and the distant mountains.

I hunt this country now.

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Sevania Kemarre Bonney – Great Grandmothers Country

My Great Grandmothers Country is where we go hunting. We hunt arlewatyerr (goanna) and arwengerrp(bush turkey). After the big rains we swim in the river. We look for sweet alkwarrer (bush banana), anaty (bush potato) and akarley (wild oranges).

I am inspired by the beautiful wild flowers that grow there.   Being on my great grandmothers country makes me happy and content.

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Rosie Ngwarraye Holmes – Katyerre (Bush Tomatoes)

Katyerre are a favourite bush tucker in Ampilatwatja, they can bear fruit for months and are a wonderful snack, packed full of Vitamin C and other nutrients. Every year in summer the ladies in the community collect bush tomatoes to eat and to take in to town to sell.

Communicating bush foods through painting is an important way of teaching younger generations and maintaining a strong culture.

The artists of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

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My Country after Apangw (Big Rain)

“This is country after we’ve had apangw (big rain). The new grasses are coming up and the water is flowing.”

Kwatcha (water) is a valuable and a much revered resource when living out in the desert. The earth responds with vibrant joyful greens after just one downpour. All life out here celebrates to the music of rain.

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

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Regina Kemarre Elkedra – Summer Bush Tucker

During the Summer months kedgadrr (bush tomatoes) and il quarldrr (bush banana) are especially bountiful at this time of year, bush foods that are found in Alyawarr country, the land of the people of Ampilatwatja.

Communicating bush foods through painting is an important way of teaching younger generations and maintaining a strong culture.

The community of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.

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Edie Kemarre Holmes – Arratherrk (Bush Flower)

They would use the vine of this plant as rope to help carry coolamon with kids. Make like a bag and carry the kids in this.

My grandmother was called Arratherrk and her sister was calle Pwelk, the leaf of the bush banana.  At Elkedra there is two vine trees and each sister is named after each one. 

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Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney – My Grandmothers Country

I still hunt my Grand Mothers country for goanna, bush medicine and yams.

I hunt all year round, hunting and walking through the country makes me happy.  When I look at the distant hills I can feel my grandmother.  Bush flowers are everywhere.

Painting and printing my grandmother’s country reminds about those times.

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Daisy Kemarre Moss – My Mother’s Country

Daisy has painted her Mother’s country, Kngwarraye country. Kngwarraye is one of the four main skin names of Ampilatwatja.

Bush medicine, goanna and many other traditional bush foods are found here. This is where Daisy’s traditional laws lie.

Daisy paints her country to keep her country strong.

The artists of Ampilatwatja made a conscious decision not to paint altyerr (dreaming stories). The artists paint their country where those stories sit.