Tanya’s striking modern interpretation of the sacred woman’s ceremony, Awelye, would make a stunning centrepiece item for any home or art collection. It portrays groups of women grinding ochre into a fine powder, mixing it with water and animal fats to make body paint. Senior women skilfully paint the breasts, chest, and shoulders of younger women using traditional tools, while singing songs and recounting Dreamtime stories that carry ancestral knowledge. The piece captures the deep spiritual, cultural, and social significance of these ceremonies, which honour land, fertility, and community. With a contemporary interpretation, the artist brings a fresh perspective to this sacred tradition, blending traditional symbolism with modern expression to emphasize its ongoing relevance and vitality.
Tanya Bird is a talented artist from Utopia, a remote and culturally significant region of Northern Australia, and part of a renowned family of artists including her grandmother, the late Ada Bird Petyarre, sister Maggie Bird, and mother Elieen Bird. With artistry running through her veins, Tanya explored this part of her DNA in her teens, focusing on Bush Medicine, Bush Plum, and women’s body paint/ceremonies such as Awelye. Her work reflects her deep cultural roots, enhanced by a bold use of colour and expressive brushwork. With a playful personality and strong family connections, Tanya continues to celebrate her cultural stories through vibrant, contemporary canvases, creating art in the Alice Springs region.
Tanya’s striking modern interpretation of the sacred woman’s ceremony, Awelye, would make a stunning centrepiece item for any home or art collection. It portrays groups of women grinding ochre into a fine powder, mixing it with water and animal fats to make body paint. Senior women skilfully paint the breasts, chest, and shoulders of younger women using traditional tools, while singing songs and recounting Dreamtime stories that carry ancestral knowledge. The piece captures the deep spiritual, cultural, and social significance of these ceremonies, which honour land, fertility, and community. With a contemporary interpretation, the artist brings a fresh perspective to this sacred tradition, blending traditional symbolism with modern expression to emphasize its ongoing relevance and vitality.
Tanya Bird is a talented artist from Utopia, a remote and culturally significant region of Northern Australia, and part of a renowned family of artists including her grandmother, the late Ada Bird Petyarre, sister Maggie Bird, and mother Elieen Bird. With artistry running through her veins, Tanya explored this part of her DNA in her teens, focusing on Bush Medicine, Bush Plum, and women’s body paint/ceremonies such as Awelye. Her work reflects her deep cultural roots, enhanced by a bold use of colour and expressive brushwork. With a playful personality and strong family connections, Tanya continues to celebrate her cultural stories through vibrant, contemporary canvases, creating art in the Alice Springs region.
