Minnie Pwerle

DOB: 1910
DECEASED 2006
LANGUAGE ANMATYERRE/ ALYAWARRE
REGION UTOPIA

About Artist:
Minnie Pwerle was born around 1910 in the Utopia region. As one of 6 six children she enjoyed a colourful childhood, later becoming the mother of 7 children of her own; Minnie was always a well-loved member of a large family. Her country is known as Atnwengerrp and her languages Anmatyerre and Alyawarr.

Minnie’s career as an artist began through Aboriginal ceremony and ritual. Her craft instigated by her appointment as a body painter during Women’s ceremonies. Body paint designs are worn to represent Dreamings and various symbols specific to particular rituals. Usually the upper body is covered in animal fat and intricate designs painted on the chest, back and arms with paints made from ochre’s.

It was not until 1999 at approximately 80 + years of age, that Minnie began painting on canvas. Her first series of works painted at the Utopia Communities workshops were linear paintings, expressing a bold, free-flowing, enigmatic style that quickly drew the interest of critics and art lovers alike. The artists primary Dreamings include “Awelye-Atnwengerrp” (Women’s Dreaming), “Bush Melon”, and “Bush Melon Seed”.

The Bush Melon itself once bountiful in supply has slowly diminished over time. The fruit could be eaten immediately or dried and stored for later use. A plant specific to the Atnwengerrp region, Minnie’s Dreamings tell the story of a treasured delicacy that sustained her people for long periods of time. Linear designs of circles, curves and breast designs depict the “Bush Melon”, while “Bush Melon Seed” is represented by large and small patches of colour strewn across the canvas. Lines of various width and colour represent the body paint designs worn by the women during ceremony or “Women’s Dreaming”.


Minnie’s more recent works have drawn comparisons to Emily Knwarreye’s “Wild Yam Stories” painted in the mid 1990’s. Eclectic in nature, her work seems to combine modernism, contemporary theory, impressionism and Aboriginality while also expressing a story of her own sacred Dreamings. Her combination of historical visual styles and spiritual content promote a sense of unity amongst two vary different spheres of influence.

In 2003 the reputable Australian Art Collector listed Minnie as one of Australia’s Top 50 most Collectable Artists. She is regarded as one of Utopia’s foremost artists with her paintings in continual demand from both galleries and the private sector.

As the mother of Barbara Weir, also a well know Aboriginal artist, it is clear that Minnie has successfully past on her talent. Her contributions to the Aboriginal art movement have been invaluable, as a respected elder of her community her work offers insight in to the spiritual world of the Australian Aborigine, whilst providing visual art lovers with a striking, and highly unique collection of works to enjoy.

Minnie passed away in March, 2006, aged in her 90’s of old age. Her funeral was attended by many Aboriginal and wider community Leaders, as a mark of respect for one of Aboriginal Arts more colourful characters. She leaves behind a rich catalogue of recent works that will continue to entertain and enrich the lives of those lucky enough to possess them for years to come. She will be sadly missed by the Aboriginal Art Industry and the community at large.



Awards:

Finalist 18th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award


Major collections:

National Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of South Australia
La Trobe University Collection
AMP Collection
Art Gallery of NSW
Hank Ebes Collection
Kelton Foundation
Kreglinger Collection
Mbantua Collection
Queensland Art Gallery
Thomas Vroom Collection


Selected exhibitions:

2002: Mixed Utopia exhibition at Knut Grothe Galeri, Charlottlenlund,Copenhagen.
2002: Solo exhibition, “ Recent Paintings”, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2002: ‘Paintings From Utopia”- combined exhibition at “Framed- The Darwin Gallery”, Darwin, NT
2002 : Mixed Utopia exhibition at Galerie a Le Temps Du Reve, France.
2002: ‘Contemporary Aboriginal Art From The Utopia Region”- combined Exhibition at BMGART, Adelaide, SA.
2002: ‘Minnie’s Country’ Dacou Gallery, Adelaide, SA.
2002: ‘Generations Utopia’- combined exhibition, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, Perth WA.
2002: Selected entrant in the 2002, 19th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.
2002: ‘A Collectable Aboriginal Art Event”- combined exhibition at Raintree Gallery, Darwin, NT.
2002: ‘BIG COUNTRY small worlds’- solo exhibition at Fire-works Gallery Qld
2002: ‘The Utopia Six’, Flinders Lane Gallery, VIC.
2002: ‘Awelye Atnwengerrp’ Solo Exhibition at Dacou Gallery, Adelaide, SA.
2002: Heart and Soul Gallery in conjunction with Mbantua Gallery, Nashville, TN, USA.
2002: Urban Wineworks with Mbantua Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA.
2002: Mbantua Gallery – ‘In the Cove’, Portland, Oregon, USA.
2002: Chapman Gallery Group Exhibition, ACT.
2002: Mixed Utopia Exhibition, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT.
2002: Mixed Utopia Exhibition’, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2003: ‘My Grandmother and Me’, World Vision, Walkabout Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
2003: ‘Minnie Pwerle & Mitjili Napurrula', Japingka Gallery, Fremantle. WA.
2003: Group Exhibition, Art & Soul Gallery in conjunction with Mbantua Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
2003: Contemporary Aboriginal Art Event, Mbantua Gallery, Umpqua Bank, Oregon USA
2003: Solo Exhibition, “Sydney Art Fair”, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2003: ‘Art from the Dreamtime”, Portland Art Museum in conjunction with Mbantua Gallery. Oregon, USA.
2004: ‘Diva’s of the Desert', Gallery Gonwana, Alice Springs, NT.
2005: “Utopia Revealed’, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA.
2005: Annual Group Exhibition ‘Shalom’, University of NSW, Shalom Department, Kensington, NSW.
2005: 'Small Wonders', Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT.
2006: Solo Exhibition, “Memorial Exhibition”, Gallery Savah, Sydney. NSW.
2006: ‘The Pwerle Sisters,’ Group Exhibition, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2006: Group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne, VIC.
2007: ‘Standing on Ceremony’, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2007: ‘Utopia in New York’ Robert Steele Gallery, New York. USA.
2007: Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA.
2007: Group exhibition, “Desert Diversity”, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2007: ‘Treasures of the Spirit’, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2007: Group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
2007: “New Works from Utopia”, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
2008: “Utopia Revisited”, NG Art Gallery, Chippendale, NSW.
2008: Colours of Utopia, Gallery Savah, Sydney NSW
2008: “Atnwengerrp: Land of Dreaming”, Minnie Pwerle carpet launch, Designer Rugs Showroom, Edgecliffe, NSW.
2008: “Emily and Her Legacy”, Hillside Gallery in Tokyo, with Coo-ee Art Sydney in conjunction with the landmark retrospective exhibition 'Utopia - the Genius of Emily Kngwarreye' at the National Art Centre, Tokyo Japan.
2010: “Body Lines” Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane QLD.
2010: “The Australian Indigenous Art Market Top 100 Exhibition” Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Bondi NSW.


Auction records:

Title: Awelye Atnwengerrp 2002
Details: Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 165 x 360 cm
Auction Price: $78,000
Auction House: Lawson~Menzies, Australian Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 14/11/2007, Lot No. 51