Ampilatwatja is a relatively large community within the homelands of the Alyawarra nation. The Alyawarra people live in small outstations in close-knit family groups. Hunting and gathering is still practised, but much less than in the past.
The Alyawarra homelands stretch north east of Alice Springs and follow the Sandover River up towards the Barkley tablelands for a thousand kilometres. This is an ancient landscape untouched, with its piercing blue skies, red sand and ghost gums.
The root of Ampilatwatja art is in the country. The finely dotted landscapes depict each artist’s own particular country or place they have custodianship over. Apmer (country) and all the different bush medicines and bush tucker are also reflected within each painting. This information is mapping the country; each artist is painting her own little piece of one big map – that is why the artists themselves don’t judge a painting as good or bad. These paintings are sacred paintings – they are not frivolously done. Whether they are beautiful landscapes or dreaming lines and rondels there is no difference, because it’s all about country.
The beauty of the landscapes comes from a close association with the land, being on it, sitting down on it. The painters’ artistic inspiration comes from nature, and their deep understanding of the earth they walk upon. Like Cézanne painting the same mountain over and over, these artists paint their piece of country, each time revealing their love for the red earth that is their home.
Ampilatwatja - Art Studio with artists at work.
Beverly Pula Luck & Margaret Kemarre Ross
Colleen Ngwarraye Morton
Edie Kemarre Holmes
Kathleen Nanima Rambler
Rosie Ngwarraye Ross
Rosie Ngwarraye Ross
