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    About the Artists

    Our vibrant and dynamic artists are from the Utopia region; a large remote area of Central Australia which, until recently, had no government funded art centre. As a result of their pioneering efforts, they have one of the strongest and richest art histories.

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  • About the Artists

    Our vibrant and dynamic artists are from the Utopia region; a large remote area of Central Australia which, until recently, had no government funded art centre. As a result of their pioneering efforts, they have one of the strongest and richest art histories.

  • Home / Women's Ceremony and Body Paint Designs

    Women's Ceremony and Body Paint Designs

    Atham-areny Story by Angelina Ngale
    Atham-areny Story by Angelina Ngale
    Atham-areny Story by Angelina Ngale 180cm x 90cm $4,400.00 AUD
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Emily Pwerle
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Emily Pwerle
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Emily Pwerle 90cm x 45cm $1,450.00 AUD
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Galya Pwerle
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Galya Pwerle
    Awelye Atwengerrp by Galya Pwerle 90cm x 45cm $1,450.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 120cm x 45cm $880.00 AUD
    Body Paint by Dora Mbitjana
    Body Paint by Dora Mbitjana
    Body Paint by Dora Mbitjana 60cm x 45cm $440.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 120cm x 45cm $880.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 180cm x 120cm $3,300.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 90cm x 30cm $440.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 90cm x 90cm $1,298.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 120cm x 45cm $880.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 180cm x 60cm $1,650.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana | Stretched
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana | Stretched
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana | Stretched 30cm x 30cm $250.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    NEW
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 45cm x 45cm $350.00 AUD
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana
    NEW
    My Mother's Country by Dora Mbitjana 45cm x 30cm $240.00 AUD

    About Women's Ceremony and Body Paint Designs

    Aboriginal body paint designs are perhaps the oldest living art form in the world, these are designs with prehistoric origins.

    Awelye (or Awely for Alyawarr people) is the term used to describe a women’s ceremony to Anmatyerre and Alyawarr people. It can also be used to describe the ceremonial body painting which is a ritual of song and dance itself, or the ceremony as a whole.

    aboriginal body paint utopia lane art aboriginal women's ceremony utopia lane art aboriginal body paint utopia lane art aboriginal body paint utopia lane art

    To apply body paint before ceremony, women firstly smear their upper bodies with animal fat, or now often generic vegetable oil. Powders ground from ochres, charcoal and ash may be applied, usually with their fingers or a tyepale (a flat stick with soft padding). The oil helps to keep the powders in place and for easier removal of the ochre powder from the skin. Particular designs and colours would be used for certain reasons. 

    “The spirits of the country gave women’s ceremonies to the old woman. The woman sings, then she gives that ceremony to the others, to make it strong”. - Kathleen Petyarre

    Women perform awelye to heal the sick, connect with their country and teach the younger women so they can carry on the traditions of the community.