Artist: Abie Loy Kemarre
Skin name: Kemarre
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ahalpere
Area: Utopia Region, Central Australia
Born: 1972
Abie Loy Kemarre, a talented colourist, began painting in 1994 under the guidance of her grandmother who is one of the famous Petyarre sisters and a renowned Utopia artist. Her grandmother imparted the methodology for creating depth-of-field within her dotwork and taught her the skill and patience needed to develop her work.
One of Abie’s most coveted styles is that which depicts her Bush Medicine story capturing the melodious movement of medicinal leaves. These leaves belong to the antywerleny (Acacia tenuissima), a type of wattle. They are crushed and mixed with animal fat as a bush medicine used for treating topical ailments (as a medicinal ointment), or soaked in water to make a medicinal wash. Abie tells us that this particular bush medicine is still made and used by her people today.
Another of her best known works are her detailed Bush Hen paintings, using fine dotting like her grandmother.
Abie's work has been exhibited across the globe including Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Indonesia, Tokyo and the USA.
