Bernie Banton Centre

31.03.09 | by Sabine Haider - Director of Central Art

The Bernie Banton Centre acquired an artwork recently from Central Art. The artwork chosen for their newly twelve million dollar building was a Awelye & Bush Melon work by Aboriginal artist Betty Mbitjana.

The Bernie Banton centre recently acquired an artwork from Central Art to go into their new appointed building. Officially named the Asbestos Disease Research Centre after campaigner Bernie Banton, who passed away in 2008. It is the world's first dedicated asbestos research facility.

We would like to thank Victoria Keena, a staff member of the research centre for the photographs. The images were sent to show Betty Mbitjana how much her artwork is appreciated.

View the artwork collection we showcase online and see for yourself the bright colours used, combined with ancient iconography, it narrates through U shape motifs and lines the markings applied to the upper body for awelye ceremonies, as well as large circles representing the ceremonial sites, and small circles representing bush melon, a sweet bush tucker, which grew once abundant at Atnwengerrp. Betty 's mother Minnie Pwerle and the other women used to gather the fruit either to be eaten or stored in times, when bush tucker was scarce.

Additional Photos: