Minnie Pwerle (circa 1910/1922 - 2006), Bush Melons, Aboriginal Art, Acrylic On Canvas

Work of a contained format concentrating as soberly as effectively the art of Minnie Pwerle, expressing here the dream of the wild melon seed. In this black and white "bush melons", white circles are juxtaposed against a black background and sometimes intersect concentrically to summon this fertility ritual to the heart of Awelye. A representative painting where the native body art is transcended by the incredible mystique, the striking artistic creation of a famous aboriginal painter very popular on the international art market.

Dimensions: 39 x 27 cm (sold mounted on a stretcher without frame)

MINNIE PWERLE
Groupe Anmatyerre / Alyawarre - Utopia - Central Desert An essential figure in modern Aboriginal art, who died in 2006 while hunting in the bush, Minnie Pwerle, who only officially created from 1999, at more than eighty years old, never ceases to fascinate us. And this, in a context of the strong rise of Aboriginal art on the market - defended for several decades by Australian galleries - through international exhibitions within prestigious institutions such as the Royal Museums of Brussels, the Gagosian gallery, the Fondation Cartier, Le Louvre Lens…and of course, the initial contributions of contemporary artists with the Quai Branly in Paris. Participating in the romantic life of Minnie Pwerle, the very date of birth of this major artist, elected in 2003 by critics among the 50 most collected artists of Australian art (and not only Aboriginal art), is not not formally established, experts place her birth between 1910 and 1922, and some in 1918. Legend also has it that Minnie Pwerle was so coveted that she was kidnapped by collectors leading her to create works for them. Quickly, the sure gesture, the powerful calligraphy of this artist, already a central figure of body art within her community via ritual body paintings, the contrast of her bright colors, the ardor of her chiseled brushstrokes, her complex entanglements arranging magnetically symbolic motifs, hold the attention of critics and gallery owners. Critical recognition of Minnie Pwerle's talent was immediate. …

Continuation of the artist's biography by clicking here