Rodney Cook Mpetyane / Men’s Hunting (RC10)

Rodney is an Anmatyerre man who grew up at Ti Tree, a small community approximately two hours North of Alice Springs.

Rodney paints bold traditional designs using bright colours. His paintings represent Men’s ceremonies and sacred sites.

Rodney is married to artist Annie Nelson Napangardi. They spend their time between Alice Springs with family and at home in Ti Tree where Rodeny loves to go ‘out bush’ hunting whilst also fulfilling his tribal obligations on his country near Ti-Tree.

Using Aboriginal symbols and drawing on his own experience of the bush, Rodney’s paintings tell stories of hunting, gathering bush tucker and traditional Aboriginal lifestyle. The Men (depicted as the U shape) are shown sitting around a waterhole. The waterholes are sites of spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal people in Central Australia. This is where both men’s and women’s business (ceremony / initiation) is held. As these ceremonies often take many weeks it is imperative that there is fresh water available and why important business takes place near these waterholes.

The background dot work represents the all important bush tucker. There is a wide variety of traditional food that Rodney’s people continue to gather and consume as a part of their diet.