Ahakeye (Bush Plum)by Lyndsay Bird Mpetyane

Lyndsay Bird paints using traditional Aboriginal iconography, sharing the Dreamtime story of Ahakeye or the Bush Plum. He inherited this Dreaming from his fathers country of Illkawerne in the Utopia region of Central Australia. The half circles on the outer edge of the painting show the holes or areas were the Bush Plum will sprout. In the centre of the painting is the main stem of the Bush Plum with its root system travelling toward the edges of the painting. Lyndsay is known of not only using traditional ochre colours but also bright and rich colours transforming his paintings and giving them a new and exciting abstraction.

Artist:Lyndsay Bird Mpetyane
Title:Ahakeye (Bush Plum)
ID:0612535
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:90 x 70 cm
Region:Utopia, Central Australia

Artist

Lyndsay Bird Mpetyane was born in approximately 1940 and comes from Akaye Soakage (Mulga Bore) in the region of Utopia Community. He is a respected elder of the Eastern Anmatyerre language group. Lyndsay is considered a senior law man and he is the custodian of many Dreamings including themes associated with men’s law which is depicted within his artwork. Lyndsay is married to Mavis Petyarre and together they have three daughters, Rosie, Jessie and Karen Bird.

When the women of Utopia were involved in the silk batik community project in the late 1970’s Lyndsay was in fact one of the few men who also worked with this medium as well. In 1987, like many others he moved to work with acrylic paints on canvas.

His paintings are typically quite large and are bold in colour. The iconic and linear patterns of his work share Dreamings such as Honey Ant, Utnea (Carpet Snake), Elcudjera (Prickle), Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Ntang Artitja (Mulga Seed), Tyankern (Mulga Berry), Spears, Arlkeny (Men’s Body Paint Designs) and other men’s law themes.

Central Art has a wonderful array of some of his Dreamings and in various colours. He uses traditional symbols and iconography is some of his artworks as well as traditional ochre colours to give a more traditional feel to his artworks whilst others which are similar in design are coloured in bright purples or greens giving a more contemporary feel. Lyndsay is also known for under painting the canvas, usually in grey or ochre making his paintings quite distinct and easily recognisable.

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Why Sabine likes this

I like this particular painting because Lynsday mixed traditional iconography with bright and modern colours. The bright green and yellow colours bring the painting to life. I feel this is a mascaline piece, with bold patterns and line work throughout the painting. Certainly an affordable painting that would give any room a centre piece and focus.