My Country by Delvine Petyarre

My Country by Delvine PetyarreCountry is more than just a place. For Delvine Petyarre, there is a deep physical, social and spiritual connection to her country; the land she identifies with through kinship system. Country provides all aspects of life. Delvine's country is Alhalkere which lies in the heart of Central Australia's Utopia region. The intricate strings of dots in this painting map Delvine's country and includes river beds, yam root systems, sandhills and travelling

Ntyweyampe comes from two Anmatyerre words: ntywey meaning the Corkwood tree

Central Australia

The linear work in this painting represents the yam and flower

Ntyeny is the Alyawarr word for the red mallee (Eucalyptus pachyphylla)

After rain fragrant white flowers bloom

One is a desert flower Joycie calls yoomba loomba

the Aboriginal women of Ilkawerne country would collect these seeds

soaking them in the water again before being consumed

The inclusion of body paint designs here is symbolic of the habitual practice of honouring the land through ceremony and acknowledging the spiritual aspect of country

Tubers (pencil yams) are found beneath the surface which is a favoured and nutritious food and there is a sacred Dreaming story for this yam that belongs to Dulcie's country

The seeds are first winnowed

180cm w x 90cm h x 2cm d