Alhalker

Physical, spiritual, and ancestral connections to Country are key themes of Kam Kngwarray’s practice. As Yamatji man Stephen Gilchrist said, Kngwarray's paintings of place are better understood as threshold objects that create openings onto Anmatyerr lands, life ways, life cycles, and life forces. Her connections and belonging to Country is brought to life in her work and go beyond representation. Anmatyerr people believe that creating art is a way to strengthen and take care of Country.

One of Kam's largest and most celebrated works is the Alhalker Suite, 1993. The 22-panel installation depicts seasonal changes of Alhalker - the land, water, plants, and animals that change within the seasonal cycle. The Alhalker Suite represents a deep knowledge of the life cycles and seven seasons of Anmatyerr Country.

The scale and title of this monumental work clearly infers it to be a kaleidoscopic view of Alhalker... representing the different environment of Kngwarray's Country: rockfaces and rockholes, grasslands and riparian zones... capturing seasonal change and the shifting light over a timeless land.
Kelli Cole, Warumungu & Luritja peoples and Hetti Perkins, Arrernte & Kalkadoon peoples

Reflect

• What natural (e.g. weather, plants, animals) and man-made (e.g. sporting, school, cultural) changes tell you that it's getting close to the end of the year? What about other times of the year?
• How would you name these changes throughout the year? Maybe you have a wet season, storm season, flower season, mango season etc.
• Imagine new creative names for your seasons, for example, Mango Madness is a name given to the build up of the wet season in Northern Australia.

The ankerr (emu) is a significant animal to Kam and all Anmatyerr people. Ankerrs are highly respected in Anmatyerr culture, with many customs surrounding the animal. Throughout an ankerr’s life, each age has a separate word to distinguish it, along with a deep vocabulary to refer to the body parts of the ankerr. Ankerr is a key theme of women's ceremonies, songs, and dances. As a leader of her community, Kam Kngwarray shared and celebrated these cultural practices. In awely, the younger ankerr are represented by dark rich colours, whereas the older emus are depicted in lighter colours. The preparation and consumption of ankerr is strictly regulated, to ensure the animal is respected in its death.

In Alhalker - Old Man Emu with Babies, 1989, the colours and stories of both young and old ankerrs are represented. The bright yellow dots and lines depict the old man ankerr, while below, the dark reds and maroons represent the baby ankerrs. Ankerr footprints are shown by the arrow-like symbols in the centre of the work. The lines represent paths between watering holes, a knowledge that the old man ankerr will pass down to the baby ankerrs. Alhalker - Old man Emu with Babies is an example of how Kam Kngwarray shared and maintained the stories of her people through her art practice, stories that have existed for time immemorial, passed down through generations.

Auntie used to paint it, that one belonging to the emu. That was her own thing. Even though we all belong to the one Country, we paint separate things.
Violet Petyarr, Anmatyerr people

Research

• Who are the Custodians of the Country you live on?
• What birds and animals are found around the area in which you live?
• Of these birds and animals, do you know which ones are endemic (region specific) to the Country you live on?

Just as the kam was Kam Kngwarray’s Dreaming and identity, fellow Anmatyerr woman Angelina Pwerle has a connection to the arnwekety (bush plum), which was passed down from her mother. As a Utopia artist, Angelina learnt batik-making alongside Kam Kngwarray, and has gone on to create canvas works displayed in galleries across Australia. Throughout her works of art, Angelina represents her Dreaming and connection to the arnwekety.

In Bush Plum, 2005, Angelina Pwerle displays the arnwekety across Anmatyerr Country. Pwerle said the arnwekety berries were blown across Anmatyerr Country, and now its fruit supports the lives of people and animals, such as the ankerr. As well as a food source, arnwekety is used in medicine to assist healing in a variety of ways, a knowledge that continues to be shared and passed on from generation to generation of Anmatyerr people.

Research

• What are some plants that are common to the Country you live on?
• Collate a large class list of these plants, either written or drawn.
• Are these plants endemic, introduced, or invasive? What are the benefits of endemic species, and what are the consequences of invasive species?

Consider the seasonal changes you have created for the area where you live.

Of these seasons, which are natural, and which are man-made? Are there seasons associated with your religion/culture, hobbies, school, sports, festivals, or anything else that shapes your life?

Sketch some symbols that represent these seasons. What colours do you associate with the different seasons?

You now have colours and symbols to represent these seasons, use these seasons as a starting point to create a new work of art, it could be a painting, a series of drawings, a video work or series of movements. Think about how the natural and man-made seasons interact, and what makes them unique to you and your community.