ALALGURA COUNTRY, 1994

Important Australian + International Fine Art
Melbourne
29 November 2007
37

Emily Kame Kngwarreye

(1910 - 1996)
ALALGURA COUNTRY, 1994

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

151.0 x 91.0 cm

signed verso: Emily
inscribed with artist's name and Delmore Gallery catalogue number verso: 94L007/ Emily Kngwarreye/ Commissioned by Delmore
inscribed with title and dated on label attached verso: Alalgura Country/ December 1994
accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Delmore Gallery, Northern Territory

Estimate: 
$20,000 - $30,000
Sold for $14,400 (inc. BP) in Auction 3 - 29 November 2007, Melbourne
Provenance

Commissioned by Delmore Gallery, Northern Territory
William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
Applied Chemicals Collection, Melbourne

Exhibited

Of My Country: Emily Kame Kngwarreye, The Applied Chemicals Collection, Bendigo Art Gallery, 1 - 30 May 1999, and touring various venues throughout Victoria and New South Wales, June 1999 - April 2000

Catalogue text

This outstanding canvas derives directly from the country surrounding the soakage at Alalgura on Utopia. Water has been harvested into the area by the natural fall of the country, creating ideal conditions for growth. The movement of the dotwork indicates this. No specific dreaming of bush tucker was in mind when this work was produced.

Emily best describes such flourishes of colour as 'merne' (food) 'everything'. Emily's paintings celebrate her belief, as expressed ceremonially, that good seasons always return, and that her ritual role has helped ensure this. As a nurturer of her specific bush tucker species, and of her family members who inherit the ritual responsibilities of these same species, Emily's ceremonial and social power is significant. She believes that she 'grows up' these food and human sources of her country.

JANET HOLT

Delmore Downs, Northern Territory