Lot 43

The Artist
Delmore Gallery, Northern Territory, cat. no. 08I18
Leonard Joel, Melbourne, The Thomas Vroom Collection, 26 February 2017, lot 275
The Le Pley Collection, Western Australia, acquired from the above in 2017

"Kathleen Kngale paints her interpretation of the 'Wild Plum' or 'Conkerberry' dreaming. She is influenced by all the natural colours of the wild plum including the beautiful white flowers, the green of the bush and the intricate variations in colour of the berry as it ripens from green through to bluish purple, red, brown and then finally the deepest dark purple. Kathleen with also use the surrounding colours in nature near the wild plum bush. Kathleen and her sisters, Angeline and Polly, traditionally do the ceremonial body painting and dance when they sing the sound of the wild plum in order to ensure the reproductive cycle continues. The sweet wild plums are high in nutrients and vitamins and they are abundant on Delmore after the summer rains. The are a highly valued food source for the Anmatyerre people. Kathleen will sometimes sing while she paints her interpretations of her dreaming onto the canvas imbuing her spirit into the work itself. This is a wonderful example of unique talent."
As stated on the Delmore certificate of authenticity 

© Kathleen Ngala/Copyright Agency, 2023