Work in Focus
Title: Untitled
Date of production: n.d
Medium: Synthetic polymer paint on canvas.
Technique: Painting.
Dimensions: 195 x 125 cm
Provenance: Collection of The University of Queensland purchased 2000.
Accession no: 2000.13
Copyright line: © Gloria Tamerre Petyarre, Utopia Art Sydney.
Descriptive Text:
Petyarre’s work Untitled uses warm earth based tones and simple painted lines to evoke aspects of the rural environment of the interior Northern Territory where the artist was born, lives and produces her artworks. In this work deep yellow and earthy brown lines in a variety of positions are used to create the form of the work and add movement, shape and texture. Through the use of warm natural tones based upon colours found in Petyarre’s central desert community of Utopia, such as dusty red, burnt orange, yellow ochre and deep earthy brows, the painting brings the senses to life. One can almost feel, hear and see the tall burnt grass as it sways in the warm wind on a hot summer’s day in central Australia. Simple white lines also gradually curve horizontally down the work, creating a sense of perspective and contrast within the painting and assist to draw the eye downward creating space and elevation in the composition. Such white lines also create contrast within the work, as they remain steadfast while the landscape sways around them, perhaps alluding to a great ethereal event in the sky far above the landscape that grounds the work.
This painting represents the more experimental, transitional and blatantly abstract side to Petyarre’s artistic practice. Deviating from her well-known bush medicine leaf works, which are created by using delicate leaf shaped brush strokes to represent the healing power of the natural environment that surrounds her, this particular work draws from other important areas of inspiration in Petyarre’s life. Aside from her trademark bush medicine leaf works, Petyarre also takes inspiration from traditional body paint patterns used in traditional women’s ceremonies within her community and the Dreaming stories she is authorised by her community to paint which include mountain devil lizard, grass seed and emu.It is clear to see that this work has been heavily influenced by her community’s traditional customs as it closely relates to women’s body paint patterns and abstract representations of her grass seed dreaming stories and thus would hold great personal meaning and significance for Petyarre.
This painting also allows for audiences to bring their own meanings to the work due its abstract composition. Those familiar with traditional Aboriginal customs of the interior Northern Territory will find meaning in the traditional patterns and Dreaming stories portrayed in the artwork, while other audiences from outside the community will view this as a contemporary abstract work and bring their own meanings to the work. These are unique features of the artwork, which allow it cross over cultural boundaries and allow for art to be the medium that melds many cultures together. Regardless of subject matter, her skillful techniques employed in this work are another significant feature of the painting. Through the use of colour and subtle tonal variations Petyarre creates dynamic optical illusions within the work. Complex and powerful lineal based patterns along with a unique use of colour work together to give Petyarre’s painting a sophisticated level of abstraction and interest that is typical of any adroit contemporary artists both internationally and in Australia
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