Deutscher and Hackett

This painting is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Delmore Gallery that states: ‘Untitled, 1990 was painted by Emily Kame Kngwarreye in April 1990. Our understanding of this amazing artist’s reflective purpose whilst in creative mode is enhanced by this work.

Untitled is an early painting that links both the freely formed lineal expression of the Atnulare Yam structure with the likely path of either food gatherers or the male emu with chicks moving across country. Her brush passes over, and is contained within the canvas surface, largely guided by her early experiences when gathering food. The lineal structure is determined by the spread, or growth pattern, of the yam vine, its tuber, and nutritious flower seed, and other accompanying species of the locale at various stages of maturity. Her line is also guided by memories of times when immediate circumstances such as distance from water and shelter, or evidence of predators threatening the emu chicks were present.

We are drawn into this beautifully worked surface, and taken into the layers of meaning and her experience. We view a wonderfully cloudy transparency of both line and dots carefully placed with a light slow hand, whilst in a mood both immersive and thoughtful.’

JANET HOLT