Alatyite - Spinifex Tuber - Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Alatyite is a common form of bush tucker in the Eastern Desert region of Central Australia. At Utopia, this small, spiky bush with spinifex-like characteristics, contains within its root system long tubers which are collected by the women and taken back to the camp where they are cooked and eaten. Alatyite is narrow in shape and reaches up to 15cm in length.

This is a fine example of Emily painting in anticipation of the completion of ceremonies being held in her country, Alalgura, during the summer of 1994. Many of her greatest paintings were created during the ceremonial season as women dance to ensure that there will be abundance during the year ahead.

Widely regarded as Australia's most important and successful Aboriginal artist, Emily Kngwarreye’s remarkable career lasted just 7 years until her passing at 86 years of age. The stylistic originality of her works changed almost monthly throughout this period and she extended her influence far beyond the reach of Aboriginal art, attracting an international audience. Since her death in 1996, her renown has continued to grow through retrospective exhibitions in Australia, Japan, the United States and Europe. Her painting Earth’s Creation I sold in 2017 for $2,100,000, the highest amount ever paid for a painting by an Australian female artist.