1943
Language Group:Alyawarre
Country:Antarrengeny, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk, Wood Sculpture
Subjects:Apeng (Kurrajong Flower) Dreaming, Ngkweyang (Kurrajong Seed), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Pwenty (Men's Ceremony), Antarrengeny Country, Camp Scene, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and Pwenty (Men's Ceremony), Ceremonial Man, Lake in Antarrengeny, Merne Ng
Prior to painting, Katie participated in the 'Utopia - A Picture Story' exhibition featuring silk batik works by 88 Utopian artists, which toured internationally. During 1988 and 1989, Katie was involved with the Summer Project, which introduced many Utopian's into the art of painting. It didn't take long before painting was a huge hit and the artists moved entirely from batik work into acrylic on canvas and linen. Katie's work evolves continually which reflects the nature of Katie's personality and tribe. Katie occasionally dabbles in wood carvings for art purposes where she has experience in creating wooden artefacts, such as bowls, for her community.
Artist: Katie Kemarre
Size: 120 x 45cm
Title: Apeng (Kurrajong Flower) Dreaming
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year Painted: 2021
Apeng (Kurrajong Flower) Dreaming
The fine designs in this painting represent the delicate flowers that can be seen covering the apeng in the summer after rain. Apeng is the Alyawarre word for the desert kurrajong tree (brachychiton gregorii). There is an ancient Dreamtime story belonging to apeng and its seed, ngkweyang, which lies in the heart of Alyawarre land in Katie's country, Antarrengeny, north east of Alice Springs. Ngkweyang is an important and nutritious food source. Not a habitual practice now, the Aboriginal people would collect these seeds, burn them to remove small hairs, and grind them into a paste for making damper (bread).
