A new exhibition has opened at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute that takes audiences full circle from the first exhibition there in 1989, to its 30th birthday celebrations and reopening after a six-and-a-half-month temporary closure due to COVID-19 this year.
Tandanya first opened its doors to the public in 1989 with an exhibition of batik artwork on silk by women from Utopia community in the NT. This year, the Gallery will be celebrating its 30th birthday (a little late, due to COVID-19) with artwork by some of the same women from the same region again gracing the walls.
‘Atnwengerrp – Our Apmere, Our Place’ present works by four generations of artists from the small community of Atnwengerrp, 270kms North-East of Alice Springs within the region of Utopia.
The collection of monochromatic artwork is inspired by Country and showcases the entire community of approximately 100 people. It features work from artists such as 97-year-old Emily Pwerle, who featured in that opening exhibition at Tandanya, and her sisters. The siblings began developing expressions of their Dreamings, passed down from generation to generation, through painting, when a painting workshop was organised for them by their niece, artist Barbara Weir, who’s work also features in the show.
The exhibition, which is open to the public until December 21, also serves as a celebratory reopening after a forced temporary closure in late March due to COVID-19.
‘Atnwengerrp – Our Apmere, Our Place’ is presented in collaboration with Pwerle Gallery, a 100% Aboriginal, family owned company, founded in 2015 by Jade Torres, daughter of art dealer Fred Torres and granddaughter of Barbara Weir (Emily Pwerle’s niece).
“Atnwengerrp – Our Apmere, Our Place” runs until December 21, 2020 Tandanya open: Mon – Sat from 10am to 5pm (except Thurs 12th and Fri 13th Nov).
Image: Jade Torres from Pwerle Gallery with her great-grand-aunt, 97 year old Emily Pwerle and grandmother Barbara Weir at Tandanya
Protected by Patchstack