My Mother's Country by Betty Mbitjana

This 90cm x 90cm painting by Betty Mbitjana beats to its own rhythm. Both striking and simple in black and white, it will humbly work in many spaces, bringing a sense of elegance, awe and meaning.

The patterns and symbols in this painting map significant sites on Atnwengerrp country, Betty's mother’s country, as well as Awelye (women’s ceremonial body paint designs) and ancestral dancing tracks as they can still be seen today, etched in the rocks at Anthep. Anthep is an ancestral place that remains the most significant site on Atnwengerrp country. Ceremony and dance are still performed there and it is a place where everyone - men, women and children - can meet together and camp. It is also a place where permanent water can be found.

• This painting comes unstretched and rolled in a tube. See our Custom Stretching page for stretching options.
• Size of painting: Approx 90cm x 90cm
• Border: Approx 6cm strip of black canvas border; enough required for wrapping around a 2cm or 3cm deep stretcher frame which is the popular choice for framing Aboriginal art.
• Material: Synthetic polymer on canvas
• This painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Name: Betty Mbitjana
Skin name: Mbitjana (also spelled Mpetyane)
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ahalpere
Region: Utopia, Central Australia
Born: 1957

Betty participated in Batik workshops in the 1980's which were followed by acrylic workshops in the early 1990's. Her batiks are featured in the Holmes a Court Collection and the publication Utopia – A Picture Story. Her early paintings used colour and shape to render depictions of the Bush Plum Dreaming that belongs to her country, and her paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout Australia. 

Betty was a likely successor to paint her mother's designs after her passing in 2006. Betty had been by Minnie's side throughout her six year career and had acted as her unofficial agent. For Betty to take on the designs, with permission from the family, was a reward for all; the community could continue to receive financial benefits through Betty, and most importantly Minnie's legacy lives on. 

Read Betty Mbitjana's full bio »

Catalogue: UL018039

Have your new painting arrive ready to hang (Australian deliveries). We work with a framer to get your artwork stretched and delivered ready to hang so you don't have to worry about anything. 

Choose the applicable size from our Custom Stretching page and simply add to cart.