Dreamtime Sisters, 2009 by Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi 69x49cm 11108CW

Dreamtime Sisters Series, 2009 by Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi

The "Dreamtime Sisters Series," 2009, by Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi, is a captivating collection of paintings inspired by the Dreamtime Sisters, or 'Irrernte-arenye,' in the Eastern Arrernte language. These benevolent spirits, believed to be the first people on earth during creation time, perform the Awelye (women's ceremony) to protect Arnumarra (country) and sacred sites.

Colleen’s artwork is intricate, with vibrant, colorful dots creating a backdrop for the elegant spirit figures that dance and sway. These spirits guard vital land areas, including sacred and ceremonial sites. Utilizing traditional dotting techniques from the Central and Western desert combined with fine linework, Colleen depicts the Irrernte-arenye floating above and safeguarding these sacred places. Her paintings are highly sought after for their unique style and cultural significance.

Although all paintings share the same theme, there are artistic differences and wonderful variations in colour. In this particular version, strong shapes at the bottom and top represent women’s sacred sites. Ceremonial poles placed in the middle of traditional ground designs during ceremonies represent the land. Dots meandering up from the sacred sites, forming part of the female figures, signify ancestral journeys.

Born in 1974, Colleen Wallace is an Eastern Arrernte artist who grew up in Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) and Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in the Northern Territory. Encouraged by her stepmother, renowned artist Kathleen Wallace, Colleen began painting in the 1990s and received permission to depict the Dreamtime Sisters. She also paints Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and Arlatyeye (Bush Yam Dreaming).

Hailing from a family of esteemed Eastern Arrernte painters, including her mother Therese Wallace and aunt Gabriella Wallace, Colleen is married to Colin Bird, son of the famous Utopia artist Ada Bird Petyarre. They have five children together. The series illustrates the ancestral spirits watching over and celebrating the artist’s grandfather’s country near Gemtree, north of Alice Springs, through Awelye.

Colleen Nungarrayi Wallace, born in 1974, lives in Alice Springs. From her father’s side, she is of the Eastern Arrente language group, and from her mother, she is of the Anmatjera language group from Conistan. Her auntie, well-known artist Kathleen Wallace, taught her how to paint and is her main source of inspiration.