010
Violet
Petyarre
Alyawarre/Eastern Anmatyerre (born c.1945)
Mountain Devil Lizard Dreaming, 2007
synthetic polymer on Belgian linen
61 x 61cm
PROVENANCE
Commissioned by Galerie Australis, Adelaide, cat.no. GAVP03072073; accompanied
by original certificate of authenticity
Documentation reads
The ceremony associated with this country is the Awelye ceremony. The
body paint is applied with the fingers using natural ochres and follows
a particular design when applied to the body for ceremonial purposes.
However, in this depiction the design is now abstracted.
The old women used to, and still do, paint the ceremonial designs on their
breast, first with their fingers, and on their chests, and then with a
brush called a typale, made from a stick. They painted with red and white
ochres. Then they danced, showing their legs. The old women danced with
a ceremonial stick in the earth.
The spirits of the country gave women’s ceremonies to the old women.
The woman sings, then she gives that ceremony to the others, to make it
strong. The old woman is the boss because the spirits of the country have
given her the ceremony. So all the women get together and sing.
The old women sing these ceremonies if people are sick; they sing to heal
young girls, or children. If a child is sick in the stomach, they sing.
The old women are also holding their country as they dance. The old women
dance with that in mind. They teach the younger women and give them the
knowledge, to their grand-daughters, so then all the grandmothers and
granddaughters continue the tradition.
[ref: Utopia - A Picture Story, The Robert Holmes a Court Collection,
Heytsbury Holdings Ltd, Perth, Australia. 1990]