Minnie Pwerle / Awelye Atnwengerrp (DG4543)

Painted for DACOU Gallery in 2002

c. 1910 – 2006

Minnie Pwerle was born prior to 1920 (c. 1910) on the banks of the Sandover River, 350 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs. Her country was Atnwengerrp and her language was Anmatyerre and Alyawarr. Minnie was one of six children and went on to become the mother of seven children including International artist Barbara Weir. She passed away peacefully 18th March 2006 at her home in Atnwengerrp with her family.

Minnie commenced painting on canvas in 1999 – and was immediately noticed by Galleries and Collectors worldwide – after a lifetime of ceremonial body painting. Body paint designs are worn to represent Dreamings and various symbols are specific to particular rituals. Minnie then started painting batiks in the 1980’s completing works for the Robert Holmes a Court Collection.

Minnie’s paintings reflect her country, the bushtucker so important to her desert heritage and the women’s ceremonial body paint inherent in her culture.

The circular design of the Bush Melon and the patterned lines of the Women’s body paint are presented in bold and striking colours reminiscent of the late Emily Knwarreye’s later works, and those of the Batik designs in which Minnie was involved.

Minnie lived most of her life at Atnwengerrp (pronounced a-noong-a-pa), her country – her sisters Emily, Molly and Kayla live close by. Teresa Purla, her granddaughter also lived near Minnie and helped look after her. Her family from Alice would often go out to kill kangaroo for her and make sure she had everything she needed.

Minnie has been included in the 50 most collectable Australian artists by the Australian Art Collector for the last two years in a row (Issue 27, Jan – Mar 2004 and Issue 31, Jan – March 2005).

A strong lady – who executed strong, collectable works. As a family friend remarked after her passing – she brought colour to our lives.

Selected Exhibitions

2000
– “Minnie Pwerle”, Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs

2001
– “Women Artists of the Australian Desert”, Auckland, NZ
– “Desert Colour – My Country”, Darwin, NT
– “Painting Country Tandanya”, Adelaide, SA
– “Combined Exhibition”, Santa Fey, New Mexico USA
– “Out of Utopia”, (in conjunction with daughter Barbara Weir), Canberra, ACT

2002
– “Generations”, Japingka Gallery, WA
– Gallery New York City, New York, USA
– Knut Grothe Gallery, Charlottlenlund, Copenhagen, Denmark
– Dacou Gallery, Adelaide, SA
– “The Utopia Six”, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
– “United – Mother and Daughter”, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

2003
– “Minnie Pwerle, Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art”, Melbourne, VIC
– “Light Over Utopia”, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
– Walkabout Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2004
– “Lines IV”, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

Selected Collections

– AMP Collection
– John McBride Collection
– Hank Ebes Collection
– Fred Torres Collection
– National Gallery of Victoria
– Queensland Art Gallery

The bold pattern of stripes and curves throughout Minnie’s paintings illustrates women’s ceremonial body paint design. After smearing their bodies with animal fat, the women trace these designs onto their breasts, arms and thighs singing as each woman takes their turn to be ‘painted up’. Their songs relate to the dreaming stories of ancestral travel and other totemic plants, animals and natural forces. Awelye – women’s ceremony, demonstrates respect for the land. In performing these ceremonies they ensure well-being and happiness within their communities. Though Minnie enjoyed using lots of vivid colours in her paintings, the traditional colours used during ceremony for her dreaming stories from Atnwengerrp country are red and white. Atnwengerrp lies in the heartland of Alyawarr country, about 200 kilometres to the north-east of Alice Springs. In this work, the artist has featured all three subject matters which she executed – the Awelye (Body Paint), the Bush Melons (small roundels) and the desert soakages (large roundels) in vibrant colours and a strong style.