Yam Awelye 1995

Emily Kame Kngwarreye made this painting, Yam Awelye, with what looks like bold, black brushstrokes on a white surface. I wonder what it was like for Emily to make this? To stand close to the canvas, feeling the push and pull of each stroke, letting the lines accumulate and tangle. The paint seems applied quickly, intuitively, like she’s capturing the essence of something fleeting. The way the lines curve and intersect reminds me of a map or a weaving, each stroke a thread in a complex pattern. Maybe she was thinking about her culture and Country and that's why the web of paint evokes a sense of connection and community? Emily is in conversation with other mark-makers like Agnes Martin and Brice Marden. Artists everywhere use the simple act of painting to engage with the world, channeling their experiences into something new. They show us how ambiguity is the key to unlocking multiple readings.