Dora Mbitjana ‘PG30126’

Artist

Dora is the youngest daughter to the late Minnie Pwerle and Barbara Weir’s youngest sister.

This dreaming is titled ‘Awelye — Women’s Ceremony’ and was passed down to her by her sister Betty Mbitjana.

Artwork Information

This artwork was produced in 2023, acrylic on linen and is 207cm x 120cm in size.

Artwork is currently stretched.

On display to view at Burnside Village SA from 21st August – 3rd September.

Collection: Blooming

Embark on a captivating voyage into the realm of ‘Blooming,’ an enchanting pop-up installation at Burnside Village, SA that masterfully weaves the creative threads of Pwerle Gallery and Hygge Studio.

Drawing inspiration from Utopia’s desert wildflowers, ablaze with hues after the spring rains, this installation is a heartfelt tribute to the land’s vibrant blossoms.

With the advent of spring, the Indigenous bond with the land deepens, resonating with the evolving seasons. The wildflowers burst forth in a symphony of purples, oranges, and yellows adorning emerald stems, against the backdrop of the earth’s fiery red embrace.

View the full collection here.

Dreaming

Dora’s Awelye paintings intricately capture the sacred patterns adorning the women’s bodies and the rhythmic imprints left upon the sand during the awe-inspiring women’s awelye ceremony. Within these ceremonies, women pay profound homage to their ancestral lineage, express their deep reverence for their land, and gracefully embody their collective nurturing role within the community.

Before the commencement of the ceremony, a design inspired by these dance tracks is meticulously painted onto the women’s bodies. Remarkably, this very design resonates today in Dora’s canvas masterpieces as well as in the artistic expressions of her esteemed lineage – her mother, sisters, and aunts. Employing ochre, charcoal, and ash, these mediums converge to embellish the women’s upper forms. During awelye, the Pwerle women elegantly adorn their chests, breasts, and upper arms with hues of ochre, red, and white.

The patterns they meticulously apply have been cherished and transmitted across countless generations, bearing witness to the cultural heritage. Solely entrusted to the skilled hands of the Pwerle and Kemarre custodians, the art of depicting these designs endures as a testament to the enduring bond between tradition and the present.

 Learn more here.

Medium

All the artwork provided is done on with highest quality linen canvas, acrylic paints and brushes ensuring the longevity of each piece of work.