My Country, 2022 | 90h x 30w | RK729
Not framed or stretched | Acrylic on canvas
Delvine Pitjara (sometimes spelled Petyarre) was born in 1982 grew up at Atneltye, or Boundary Bore, in the expansive Indigenous homelands region of Utopia, some 240km north-east of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Delvine is sister to acclaimed artist, Anna Pitjara and youngest daughter of Glory Ngale (dec.), an esteemed artist and integral participant in the landmark Utopia Women's Batik Project in the late 1980s. Delvine is also related to the famous artists Kudditji Kngwarreye and Emily Kame Kngwarreye, through her grandparents.
In this painting, Delvine paints her country, Alhalkere, using a combination of intricate white dots and fine linework to capture the dry rivulets, creeks, sandhills, soakage sites and other features of the terrain from a topographic point of view. She takes great care in capturing the Dreamings of her father and grandfather's country. Delvine paints in a monochrome or reduced palette, often creating salient features of dotted colour, giving her artworks an effortlessly contemporary aesthetic (although drawn from her 60,000-year-old culture).
Utopia is an area that is abundant with the pencil yam, a beloved bush tucker that holds significant spiritual meaning. Delvine is also known to paint Pencil Yam and Yam Seed stories, using fine white lines to depict the sprawling roots of the plant.
Delvine's painting have a strong following and are popular with galleries and collectors.
