Werte! My name is Evelyn Young, and the artwork I have submitted for Desert Mob this year is titled Ilye uternnge (Boomerang in the sun).
I am from Ltyentye Apurte and I work at Keringke Arts, which is the art centre on the community. I have been working at Keringke Arts for around 25 years and I still love to paint! I do not remember how many times I have been to Desert Mob but it is a lot. Desert Mob is a special event for me and a lot of other Aboriginal artists because we get to see our works hanging next to works from other artists from other art centres, and it is a good chance to see the different works and styles from their countries.
This year, me and the other artists from Keringke have done artworks on plywood. This is the first time any of us had tried to create an artwork like this, so it was a bit experimental. First, we burnt the design onto the plywood with hot wire tips. In the old days, the old people would burn designs onto animal carvings,
and working this way brought back old memories. Then we painted around the design we had burnt. We finished the artworks with beeswax over the top.
I chose to paint about the boomerang because I wanted to paint something traditional. I made the boomerang the subject because the shape is instantly recognisable as ‘Aboriginal’ but I also use it because the boomerang is a kind of ancient technology, a timeless invention by my people.
During the time Everlyn Young has been painting for the art centre she has established herself as a fine proponent of the Keringke style. Generally painting in traditional colours and highly intricate patterning, her works are reflections of land and connections of tangible and intangible energies.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
