Gloria Tamerre PETYARRE

Devil lizard dreaming - Body paint , 1994

Art : Aboriginal
Origine : Utopia
Dimensions : 90.5 x 121 cm
Medium : Acrylic on canvas
Price : Vendue / Sold. COLLECTION MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY, PARIS.
N° : 29

 "Mountain devil" refers to a small spiny-skinned lizard with amazing camouflage abilities. Gloria is the 'guardian' of this species. In the Aboriginal language, this lizard is called 'Arnkerrthe'.

During the period of the Dreamtime, Arnkerrthe was an elderly woman who lived near the Aneltyeye Pool in Utopia. Next to this pond was a limited deposit of red ochre. In order to protect this deposit from abuse, 'Arnkerrthe' set off to the north of the region to collect all the female ceremonial objects made from ochre, mainly hair belts. She buried her treasure in two different places, which later became major ochre deposits.

During the ceremonies, or 'awelye', recalling this story, Gloria covers her body with ochre-painted lines evoking the lizard's rib cage, and through song and dance she allows the lizard's spirit to relive and renew its act of creating the world.

This painting uses the representations of the lizard's ribs that Gloria paints on her own body.

This work is provided with a certificate of authenticity.