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Continue ShoppingMatthew Mpetyane
Skin name: Mpetyane (also spelled Mbitjana)
Language group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ahalpere
Region: Utopia, Central Australia
Born: 1961
Matthew is eldest son of renowned artist, Kathleen Ngale and Motorbike Paddy, and brother of Janie and Elizabeth Mpetyane. He paints very little and has kept a low profile living in his community in Utopia in Central Australia.
His style in these paintings reflects the same superimposed dot work that his mother Kathleen and Aunty Polly Ngale use to depict the Conkerberry Dreaming.
Subjects: Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Goanna, Bush Berry, Possum
Mathew paints the story of the Ahakeye. This is a very important story for Mathew that belongs to his country. This story, its songs, dances and symbols have been passed down to Mathew from his father. The ahakeye, called bush plum in English by Mathew, is also known as the native currant or citrus. It belongs to the canthium attenuatum shrub which grows about 3m high. This shrub produces small white flowers, deep green citrus-like leaves and the ahakeye which are black when ripe and very small. This fruit is favoured for its sweet taste and can be reconstituted in water if dry. Dot work represents the ahakeye.
Exhibitions
2002 Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions: New City Merchants, Knoxville, TN; Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, TN; 'The Cove Gallery' Portland, OR; Urban Wine Works, Portland, OR; Mary's Woods, Portland, OR
2003 Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions: New City Merchants, Knoxville, TN; Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, TN; 'The Cove Gallery' Portland, OR; Mary's Woods, Portland, OR
