Biography

Dave Ross Pwerle was a high Aboriginal dignitary from the Anmatyerre group. In addition to his vast knowledge, he was also a "rainmaker", a highly respected title in such an arid environment. As an initiate, Dave Ross decided to paint in order to capture on canvas the rich legends of his people so that they would not be lost forever. These sacred stories or 'Dreamings' all come from the Dreamtime, the time of Creation for the Aborigines, during which marvellous beings emerged from the original magma and created Australia, its people, their laws and their customs. Although very contemporary in appearance, Dave Ross's style is a transposition onto canvas of the floor paintings that were created on the occasion of religious ceremonies. These consisted of tracing maps of the desert, listing the sacred sites created by the Great Ancestors as they travelled. Paintings such as those by Dave Ross help new generations to find their way around their territory in order to find these sites. 

Dave Ross Pwerle was one of the first Utopia artists to be exhibited internationally, in 1991.