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Catalogue Number: 25/322
This painting shows a special time when Aboriginal women come together for ceremony. Before the ceremony begins, the women collect ochre from the earth and from dry river beds. They grind the ochre on a smooth rock and mix it with water to make paint. Ochre comes in natural colours like red, yellow, white, and brown.
The women paint their bodies with designs that carry important meaning. These patterns can tell stories about their Dreaming, their Country, their ancestors, and the roles they hold in ceremony.
The curved shapes in the painting show the women sitting together around the grinding rock.
This tradition has been practiced for many generations. Older women teach the younger ones how to collect the ochre, how to paint the designs, and what each pattern means. This is passed down from mothers, aunties, and grandmothers. By learning these designs, the younger women keep their culture strong and carry the knowledge into the future.