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About the Artists
Our vibrant and dynamic artists are from the Utopia region; a large remote area of Central Australia which, until recently, had no government funded art centre. As a result of their pioneering efforts, they have one of the strongest and richest art histories.
About the Artists
Our vibrant and dynamic artists are from the Utopia region; a large remote area of Central Australia which, until recently, had no government funded art centre. As a result of their pioneering efforts, they have one of the strongest and richest art histories.
This painting represents a women's ceremony, known as awely to Gypsy. Women perform awely to heal the sick, connect with their country and teach the younger women so they can carry on the traditions of the community.
U shaped symbols represent the women who are accompanied by their dancing stiks (straight lines) and coolamons (oval shapes). Coolamons are carved wooden bowls, used for different purposes such as carrying ochre paint used to paint their bodies during ceremony. There is a ritual just for the application of body paint where the women sing as each woman takes her turn to be 'painted up'.
The circles represent the site where the women are performing these rituals.
Name: Gypsy Jones
Skin name: Pwerle (also spelled Pwerl, Pula)
Language group: Alyawarr
Country: Atnwengerrp
Lives: Utopia, Central Australia
Catalogue number: SP0317
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