My Country I 1995

Emily Kame Kngwarreye created "My Country I" using acrylic on canvas. Born around 1910 in the Australian outback, Kngwarreye spent the bulk of her life working as a stockhand before becoming a celebrated artist in her late 70s. The painting is a landscape of sorts, a bird’s eye view of the artist’s homeland, Alhalkere. Its visual language is rooted in Aboriginal traditions of storytelling through abstracted depictions of the land. Kngwarreye’s paintings emerged on the global art market during a period of renewed interest in Indigenous art. As western audiences embraced Indigenous aesthetics, the stakes of representation rose. The painting embodies the complexities of cross-cultural exchange. What does it mean for an indigenous artist to gain global recognition? What role do institutions play in shaping our understanding of cultural exchange? As historians, understanding the artist’s intention involves a deep consideration of her cultural background, artistic training, and the complex relationship between Indigenous communities and the global art market.