Polly Ngale & Kathleen Ngale - Bush Plum Dreaming

Polly Ngale and sister Kathleen Ngale (Ngal) are amongst the most senior custodians on Utopia homelands. Their shimmering paintings of the Bush Plum Dreaming story give us a sense of the importance of their country, Ahalpere, and the resources and cultural ceremonies that underpin life there. While the artists are aged perhaps in their 80s, the energy and vibrancy of the art suggest that the cultural life that drives their culture is a major source of inspiration and life force for Anmatyerre and Alyawar people.

Both Polly and Kathleen Ngal began their artistic careers in the late 1970s when a large group of the women at Utopia began translating their stories into batik textile designs. The originality and energy of these batik works saw the artists develop layering techniques which they later applied to painting when they began working on canvas ten years later.

In their work on the Anwekety Bush Plum Dreaming paintings, the artists depict the bright yellow seeds of the plant and colours associated with the plant and the seasonal colours of the land as the fruit ripens. The painting becomes an image of abundance and fertility of the land and a homage to the tradition of stewardship of Country. The online exhibition is presented by Japingka Gallery from 15 May until 25 June 2020.

Polly Ngale Artworks