Poly Ngal

Biography

'''POLY NGAL 1936 - '''

Language: Anmatyarr

Country: Aharlper

Residence: Camel Camp, Utopia

Grandfather's Language: Anmatyarr

Grandfather's Country: Aharlper

Grandmother's Language: Alywarr

Grandmother's Country: Ngkwelay (Kirrajong Bore)

As senior custodian of her Country, Poly Ngal shares great responsibility as a keeper of cultural knowledge for her country Aharlper, located in the heart of Utopia, 250 kms North East of Alice Springs. She belongs to the oldest living generation within Utopia and is among the most accomplished painters who has worked at Utopia during the past 20 years. Poly began her career in late 1979, through the production of Batiks, made by artists in Utopia prior to the introduction of painting on canvas in the mid to late 1980s.

Poly Ngal's paintings often depict bright yellow seeds, feast for the emus, amongst the Bush Plums that grow in her country. Her paintings are borne from traditional knowledge and Poly's confident approach to her work can be seen in the way she assembles streams of seeds, piling dots upon each other to create rich thick fields of glowing palettes of colour.

Exhibitions

'''2008'''

Moscow World Art Fair, Manage, Moscow

'''2007'''

''Journeys and Dreams'', Gecko Gallery, Broome

''My Way: A Survey of Utopia Artists'', Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane

''Memory As Landscape'', Masterpiece @IXL, Hobart

'''2006'''

''ArtParis 2006 Contemporary Art Fair'', Grand Palais- Champs Elysees, Paris

'''2005'''

''Memory As Landscape'', The October Gallery, London in association with Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne

'''2004'''

''21st Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award'', 2004, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

'''2003-05'''

''Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award: Celebrating 20 years'', Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and touring

'''2003'''

''20th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, 2003, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

'''2002'''

''Two Sisters: Kathleen & Poly Ngal'', Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne

'''2001'''

''Utopia, a special painting place'', Bett Gallery, Hobart

''Bush Plum Dreaming'', Indigenart, Perth

''Brilliance'', Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne

''Painted Countries'', Thornquest Gallery, Gold Coast

''Amerr Merungrka'', Hogarth Gallery, Sydney

'''1999'''

''Intricacies of Women'', Indigenart, Perth

''Awelye'', Desart Gallery, Sydney

Achievements, Collections & Commissions

'''ACHIEVEMENTS:'''

'''2004'''

21st Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, Finalist

'''2003'''

''20th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award'', Honourable mention

'''COLLECTIONS:'''

Araluen Arts and Entertainment Centre, Alice Springs

Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth

Benalla Art Gallery, Benalla

CAAMA (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association), Alice Springs

Holmes a Court Collection, Perth

Lauraine Diggins, Melbourne

Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton

Private collections, Australia, France, USA

Bibliography

Brody, Anne Marie, Utopia: A Picture Story, Heytesbury Holdings, 1990, Perth, pp. 102-103

West, Margie, ''Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award: Celebrating 20 years'', Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, 2003, pp. 86-87