Utopia
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The Anmatyerre and Alyawarre speaking artists who live on the lands that make up the Utopia communities in the eastern part of central Australia, have artistic traditions similar to those of their western desert neighbours, despite differences in language and social structure. Their land was taken over by pastoral leases or stations in the 1920s, but some 50 years later the Anmatyerre and Alyawarre speaking people began to reoccupy their traditional lands north and north-west of Alice Springs. In 1979 they won back the rights to the area that had been temporarily the Utopia cattle station and instead of establishing a town or settlement, they elected to live in small out-stations or camps.
Atnwengerrrp is a very small community on the banks of the Sandover River 50 km South East of Ampilatwatja. This is the traditional country for Anmatyere and Alyawerre people and is noted for its barren red desert and rocky outcrops. A harsh climate with low rainfall, long summers and cold winter nights. The changing seasons are marked by the appearance of wild flowers, lush grasses and bush fruits, adding colour to the spinifex grasses, mulga trees and low bush scrub.
The rise to prominence of Utopia artists began with the making of batik in the late 1970s following workshops conducted on site at the waterholes and camps. This was primarily the initiative of art worker, Jenny Green who taught the techniques of batik but left the creative elements entirely in the hands of the artists. They drew on their ceremonial and social experience, producing exquisite images of Awelye (women's body paint designs) and the grasses, animals and bush foods that formed such an important part of their lives. This beginning evolved rapidly through projects into what is now an internationally recognised community of artists of whom Emily Kame Kngwarreye was the landmark figure whose work plunged Australian Indigenous art into the contemporary art world. Today artists such as Abie Loy, Kathleen Petyarre are just a few who have also achieved this elevated recognition.
Enquiries are welcomed
Atnwengerrrp is a very small community on the banks of the Sandover River 50 km South East of Ampilatwatja. This is the traditional country for Anmatyere and Alyawerre people and is noted for its barren red desert and rocky outcrops. A harsh climate with low rainfall, long summers and cold winter nights. The changing seasons are marked by the appearance of wild flowers, lush grasses and bush fruits, adding colour to the spinifex grasses, mulga trees and low bush scrub.
The rise to prominence of Utopia artists began with the making of batik in the late 1970s following workshops conducted on site at the waterholes and camps. This was primarily the initiative of art worker, Jenny Green who taught the techniques of batik but left the creative elements entirely in the hands of the artists. They drew on their ceremonial and social experience, producing exquisite images of Awelye (women's body paint designs) and the grasses, animals and bush foods that formed such an important part of their lives. This beginning evolved rapidly through projects into what is now an internationally recognised community of artists of whom Emily Kame Kngwarreye was the landmark figure whose work plunged Australian Indigenous art into the contemporary art world. Today artists such as Abie Loy, Kathleen Petyarre are just a few who have also achieved this elevated recognition.
Enquiries are welcomed
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