Women Ceremonies paintings are predominately from the Utopian Region “Awelye ” , an Anmatyarre word referring to women’s business and to ceremonies associated with ritual knowledge owned only by Women. The Awelye is performed by Aboriginal women to recall their ancestors, to show respect for their country and to demonstrate their responsibility for the wellbeing of their community.

Since it reflects women’s role as the nurturer the Awelye makes connections with the fertility of the land and a celebration of the aboriginal food it provides. It is women’s business and is never done in the presence of men.

The Awelye ceremony begins with the women painting each others’ bodies in designs relating to a particular women’s Dreaming and in accordance with their skin name and tribal hierarchy. The Awelye designs represent a range of Dreamings including animals and plants, healing and law.

The designs are painted on the chest and shoulders using powders ground from