This magnificent artwork refers to Awelye at Atnwengerrp , a significant place at Utopia in central Australia.

For awelye the women anoint their upper body with oil before applying body paint designs in preparation for women's ceremonies. The women sing during this application process. Women's ceremonies are very important; through body paint, song lines and dance cycles, they pay homage to the country they are attached too.

The small circles depicted represent the bush melons the artist and other women would gather for bush tucker, which grew once in abundance, but now difficult to find.

If you would like to know more about Awelye and the relationship with Aboriginal Art and culture, please read the following articles, or view video footage of Aboriginal Women applying body paint design:

• Awelye (Women's Ceremony) Art
• Utopia Aboriginal Paintings from the Central Desert
• Tribute Minnie Pwerle

• Video footage of Aboriginal women applying awelye (body paint designs)