MOTHER AND DAUGHTER: Lulu and Selina Teece
Coinciding with International Women’s Day Lulu Teece Apetyarre and Selina Teece Pwerl two members of the same family from the remote community of Ampilatwatja (pronounced Um-blud-a-witch) north of Utopia in the eastern central desert will be in Perth for the opening of Artitja Fine Art’s first exhibition for 2010, MOTHER AND DAUGHTER: Lulu and Selina Teece being held from March 5 in South Fremantle.
Mother Lulu born in 1953 began painting in the late 1980’s. Her landscapes are a mixture of naïve realism and the fine dotting technique characteristic of the Utopian artists. Born in 1977 daughter Selina’s painting is an exceptional example of the new wave of desert artists who having grown up immersed in their elders’ art pursuits are interpreting their ancestral dreamings in a fresh, vibrant and contemporary way.
With its origins in the early 1970’s Australian Indigenous art today is recognised as one of the great contemporary art movement worldwide. Initially only the men painted, but today female indigenous artists have firmly established their place in the fine art world and are now influencing the next generation of artists born into the movement.
Director of Artitja Fine Art Anna Kanaris sees this as very positive. What is fantastic about the growth of the women’s involvement is that the daughters spend a lot of their childhood watching them paint so it’s just natural that they want to try painting too. Out of this are emerging some extraordinarily good artists. These young women are quite literally following in the footsteps of their mothers’ who have become accomplished artists and are well on the way to their own success. And the dates coinciding with International Woman’s Day fit the theme beautifully.
Both artists paint from an aerial perspective, though there is a significant difference in their approach. Selina is far more abstract as can be seen in her signature Spinifex Story design in which she depicts the spinifex bush as a half orb – conjuring up 3D imagery which fascinates the audience as they perceive floating lips, kisses, lemon slices and fans. explains Ms Kanaris.
Having the artists in attendance is always a big treat for all concerned, and in this case particularly so for Selina who for the first time will be flying out of Alice Springs and into a big city. Lulu on the other hand is a very accomplished artist who has exhibited world wide and is well accustomed to travelling.
Artitja Fine Art specialises in art from Utopia and the western and central desert regions. Directors Anna Kanaris and Arthur Clarke operate a home based gallery in South Fremantle, open by appointment daily. They also hold up to four exhibitions a year in a gallery space, ensuring that a wider Perth audience can easily access the work, and learn about the culture and art of Australia’s Indigenous people.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER: Lulu and Selina Teece is free to the public. Opens 6.30pm Friday 5th March 2010 and continues 10am to 6pm daily until March 21st at 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle.
The exhibition is presented with the involvement of the Artists of Ampilatwatja Art Centre through which Lulu regularly paints.
For further information, please contact Anna Kanaris on 9336 7787 or 0418 900 954 or visit www.artitja.com.au
