Product Description

The design elements in Emily’s painting are inspired by the ancestral dreamings of her traditional country, Atnwengerrp, situated in the Northern Region of Central Australia.  These dreaming include, the Bush Tomato Anemangkerr (Solanum Centrale) represented by the circular patterns on the canvas; the wild bush orange Akarley (Capparis Umbonata)  and Awelye – the ceremonial body paint designs associated with these dreaming.

Both the bush orange and bush tomato were, and still are, very important food sources for these nomadic people. They are extremely nutritious and once grew in abundance. Ceremonies were conducted to honour the ancestors and to thank them for these important foods, as part of the ceremony woman and men would paint specific motifs and design on their upper torso called Awelye, and retrace their ancestor’s steps using song and dance, further enhancing their connection with the land, its plants and animals.