Minnie Pwerle

Minnie Pwerle

At various points during your life various artists or events have a transformative effect on you. It may be a subtle thing where you dress in colours or patterns that evoke a particular mood, or it could be a 'connection' of sorts you get from someone's work. I know some collectors follow an artist's progress indefinitely and I only wish I'd had the chance with the wonderful Minnie Pwerle. Minnie (1910 - 2006) was an artist who was well-known for her body painting skills among the community in Antwengerrp, Utopia, in Central Australia. 

She came to painting around 2000 aged approximately 80 years old. (The dates of her life are a matter for some conjecture) The beauty of her work is beyond question, however, there were rumours that she had been kidnapped and forced to paint to cash in on her rising fame. Her subject matter was derived from her body painting technique and also the bush tucker of the region she lived in. Her lineage is dotted with amazing talent... her sister-in-law (Emily Kame Kngwarreye) and her daughter (Barbara Weir) have their works in many private and State collections.  My dream is to buy some myself as her work is so evocative and intensely personal. Imagine her creative output had she started when she was much younger!

 Minnie Pwerle

Minnie Pwerle