The painting depicts unique Aboriginal symbols referring to ceremonial body paint design and womens ceremonies associated with the dreamings from Ahalkere country, Utopia in Central Australia. Awelye refers body paint and ceremony.

Depictions illustrated in this artwork are:

• The segmented lines represent body markings for awelye (ceremonies)
• The U shapes represents the designs painted under the neck area
• The red, yellow and white circles represent the earth ochres used for body painting
• The circles with lines (sun like) represent the stones used for crushing the ground ochres
• The oval circles with strips represent the skirts the women wear in ceremonies
• The concentric circles represent the waterholes
• The wavy lines represent the connection to each waterhole - journey path
• The U shape with strips represents the body paint design painted onto the breast
• The meandering lines with red circles represent the site to where the red ochre is collected
• The long oval shapes represent the singing stones for awelye (ceremony)

If you would like to know more about Awelye and the relationship with Aboriginal Art and culture, please read the following articles or to view video footage of Aboriginal women applying body paint and dancing during awelye ceremony.

• Awelye (Women's Ceremony) Art
• Aboriginal Women
• Aboriginal Symbols and their Meanings
• Utopia Aboriginal Paintings from the Central Desert
• Video of Aboriginal women dancing during awelye ceremony
• Video of Aboriginal Women applying body paint design