c. 1960's
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen
Subjects:Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower), Alhepalh (Acacia Shrub), Country, Atyetyart (Olden Day People) Story, Rainbow Dreaming, Alpite (Wild Flowers), Bush Medicine, Yerrampe (Honey Ant) Dreaming, Imuna (Bush Food), Ceremonial Man
Michelle is younger sister to Lily Lion Kngwarreye who is represented in both batik and painting collections. Michelle, though younger, paints with the same refined style and her subject matter relates to her countries Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr.
Her works have been featured in several group exhibitions since 1977, including shows at Utopia Art, Sydney; the Orange Regional Gallery; the Austral Gallery, St Louis, USA; the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, and the Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs.
Artist: Michelle Lion Kngwarreye
Size: 120 x 60cm
Title: Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower)
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year Painted: 2021
Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower)
All of Michelle's Dreamtime stories belong to her country, Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr. This painting is inspired by the Dreamtime story of the Ilyarn or Ilyarnayt, a rare and attractive plant growing throughout Central Australia.
This plant is particularly favoured for the abundance of edible grubs living in the roots, known simply as Ilyarnayt, and also its seeds (Ntang Ilyarnayt) which are collected, ground into a paste and used for making damper (bread).
