Awelye : The legacy of Utopia
Awelye can be translated as ‘women’s ceremony’, but it is a multifaceted concept. It has been called ‘performance-based knowledge’ by anthropologists, and encompasses music, song, dance, ritual objects, ground painting and body painting designs done in ceremony, storytelling, knowledge, education, entertainment, maintenance of Country, artistic expression and expression of family and personal relations. Awelye is a core fundamental practice of these societies, transmitting the deep knowledge, spiritual practice and community customs of the past into the present and future generations.
(Extract from exhibition catalogue essay by Emily McCulloch Childs)
The region of Utopia, 290km northeast of Alice Springs, is home to the Alyawarre and Anmatyerre people and is well known for its contemporary art movement. The groundbreaking Eastern Anmatyerre artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910-1996), now often described as “Australia's most famous artist”, is the first Australian artist to be accorded a solo retrospective at London's Tate Modern.
One of Kngwarreye’s main subjects was Awelye. Called “performance-based knowledge” by anthropologists, Awelye encompasses music, song, dance, ceremony, storytelling, knowledge, education, entertainment, maintenance of Country, artistic expression and expression of family and personal relations. Kngwarreye's work fostered a continuing legacy of Utopia's women painters.
As art writers and gallerists, Everywhen Art's Susan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs have had a 30-year working relationship with Utopia's artists, visiting their Country and documenting their lives and art over several generations.
Awelye: the legacy of Utopia features paintings by 14 leading next generation artists. Their work, like that of Emily Kame Kngwarreye, resonates with vibrancy and colour as they sing the strength and beauty of Awelye into painted form.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS: Annie Hunter Petyarre, Barbara Weir, Belinda Golder Kngwarreye, Bernardine Kemarre, Caroline Petrick Ngwarreye, Charmaine Pwerle, Colleen Wallace Nungurrayi, Emily Pwerle, Janet Golder Kngwarreye, Jeannie Mills Pwerle, Katie Rumble Petyarre, Lizzie Moss Pwerle, Minnie Pwerle.
Saturday November 8 | 2pm
OPENING EVENT + CURATORS TALK + MINI ART PARADE
Susan McCulloch and Emily McCulloch Childs: Awelye; the legacy of Utopia plus mini art parade of newly arrived works featuring Janet Golder Kngwarreye's exciting new works, Alhalkere Country - the country she shares with both her late grandfather Kudditji Kngwarreye and Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Book here or RSVP info@everywhenart.com.au
