Kame Dreamingby Judy Purvis Kngwarreye

Judy Purvis Kngwarreye was born in approximately 1962 and is the eldest daughter of Greeny Purvis Petyarre (who sadly passed away in 2010) and Kathleen Kemarre. Greeny Purvis was a senior traditional custodian and highly sort after artist. Greeny and Kathleen have four daughters, Judy, Jedda, Maureen and Jennifer Purvis Kngwarreye. Central Art is excited to have worked with Greeny, Judy, Jedda and Jennifer over the years. The family originate from Utopia in Central Australia and their traditional lands are Alhalkere country. Judy is an Anmatyerre woman and alongside her sisters they depict significant Dreaming stories from this region.

As a young woman Judy was involved in the Utopia Batik movement in the late 1980’s whereby silk batiks were introduced to the women of Utopia. The project allowed the women to depict traditional stories onto the silk batiks. The project was such a success that it went on to exhibit all 88 pieces around Australia and in Eire and Scotland. The whole collection was later acquired by the Holmes a Court Collection. Judy’s piece was a scene that depicted women gathering bush tucker. She depicted traditional hunting and gathering implements such as coolamons and digging sticks and women gathering bush tucker such as bush tomatoes, oranges and bananas. The border of her artwork depicted traditional women’s body paint designs. Her artwork is also featured in the book “Utopia: A Picture Story”.

Judy’s most significant Dreaming is that of “Kame”, the seed of the Atnwelarr (Pencil Yam). There are two parts to the Kame story, one that belongs to Alhalkere and Atnangkere country and the other Arnumarra country. The two different seeds were born and created to different species of the Pencil Yam, one called Atnwelarr and the other Arlatyeye. The Kame story is a significant story for Judy’s country and the women will enact ceremonies to ensure its perpetual germination as it is a primary food source and life form of the ancestors. Judy uses soft dot work and blocks of colour to represent the Kame in her artworks. The background designs are inspired by the leaf and root system of the Pencil Yam. The artwork featured on Central Art’s website is a prime example of her style and colour scheme.

Judy not only paints “Kame Dreaming” but also “Awelye”, this is a general term used by Aboriginal people to describe women’s ceremonies and everything associated with women’s business. She has also occasionally painted bush tucker and bush scenes however the “Kame Dreaming” is her most significant and well known design.

Judy has had her artworks featured in several group exhibitions over the years around Australia and through the USA. Her paintings are also held in collections around Australia, most notably with the Holmes a Court Collection.

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