Emily Kam Kngwarray: 'Je suis l'igname et le rocher' at Le Journal des Arts
An exhibition review in Le Journal des Arts showcases the work of Emily Kam Kngwarray, titled 'Je suis l'igname et le rocher' (I am the yam and the rock). It highlights a particular painting that illustrates a cave or hollow rock, symbolizing the artist's self-identity. This piece serves as an abstract representation of a territory while also expressing a personal and spiritual bond with the Australian landscape. Kngwarray, an Anmatyerre artist, is celebrated for her abstract works rooted in her ancestral lands and Dreaming narratives. The exhibition emphasizes the yam, a vital food source and totem, alongside the rock, which signifies permanence and ancestral ties. The review points out the significance of grasping the cultural context of her art, often misread as mere abstraction.
Key facts
- Emily Kam Kngwarray is an Anmatyerre artist.
- The exhibition is titled 'Je suis l'igname et le rocher'.
- The work depicts a cave or hollow rock, which the artist identifies with herself.
- The painting is described as an abstract map of a territory.
- The yam is a significant totemic symbol in Kngwarray's culture.
- The rock represents permanence and ancestral presence.
- The exhibition is featured by Le Journal des Arts.
- Kngwarray's art is often misinterpreted as purely abstract.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Le Journal des Arts