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.
PAST EXHIBITION
Country is much more than just a place.
26 Jan - 6 Apr 2020
This exhibition is a special collaboration with Utopia artists Delvine Petyarre and Dulcie Pwerle to celebrate our beautiful land and country.
No longer available
Country is much more than just a place. For Dulcie Pwerle and Delvine Petyarre, there is a deep physical, social and spiritual connection to their country; the land they identify with through their kinship system.
Delvine's country is Alhalkere which lies in the heart of Central Australia's Utopia region, while Dulcie's is a little further north, called Antarrengeny.
But their countries are linked by more than just a long stretch of dirt road. Rivers, waterholes, animal tracks, history and stories are interconnected.
It is through these stories, told by their parents and grandparents, and through ritual of teaching, song and dance that Delvine and Dulcie are entrusted with the cultural knowledge and responsibility to care for their country.
It is also through these stories that they create these vivid works of art.
In this exhibition piece by Dulcie Pwerle, the red and white circles in the centre section represent rockholes, connected by rivers. These rockholes were a source of permanent water and of great importance to the Antarrengeny people before bore water became available.
On the sides, symbols show women, wild flowers and bowls of bush foods which are interconnected with body paint designs. The inclusion of body paint designs here is symbolic of the habitual practice of honouring the land through ceremony and acknowledging the spiritual aspect of country.
