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Catalogue Number: 25/282
This painting shows a special time when Aboriginal women come together for ceremony. During these gatherings, the women prepare ochre from the earth. They grind the ochre into a fine powder and mix it with water to make paint. Ochre is a natural colour that can be red, yellow, white, or brown, and each colour comes from a different place in the land.
The women paint their bodies with patterns that hold deep meaning. These designs can tell stories about Country, family, ancestors, and the women’s own roles in ceremony. Every line and shape has a purpose.
Older women guide the younger ones, showing them how to mix the ochre, how to paint the designs, and what each pattern means. This teaching is passed down from grandmothers, aunties, and mothers. By learning these designs, the younger women keep their culture strong and carry the knowledge forward.
The painting celebrates this sharing of knowledge, the strength of women’s ceremony, and the connection between people, land, and tradition.