Ntange II (Grass) 1994

Emily Kame Kngwarreye made “Ntange II (Grass)” using acrylic paint on canvas. Though these are modern materials, the painting is deeply connected to Kngwarreye’s ancestral lands in the Australian desert. Look closely, and you can see how she applied the paint in layers of dots and dashes. The dynamism created is evocative of the natural world, in particular, the way seeds are scattered across the terrain. While she adopted the techniques of contemporary painting, Kngwarreye translated these into her own visual language to represent her cultural traditions. Kngwarreye spent most of her life working as a stockhand, but when she was in her 70s she took up painting full-time. Her paintings became instantly popular, and today they can fetch high prices in the art market. However, it's important to remember that “Ntange II (Grass)” is much more than just a commodity. It’s a powerful expression of the relationship between people and the land, and demonstrates how art and craft traditions can be used to challenge the divide between fine art and everyday life.