Hand-Painted Noongar Art

Artist: Christine Winmar

Region: Perth, WA

Size: 74 x 60 cm

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Christine Winmar is a Noongar woman, born in Midland, Western Australia, in 1965. Her skin name is ‘Allawah’, an Aboriginal word meaning "Stay here".  Christine was taught to paint by her father, a renowned artist and didgeridoo craftsman. He taught her many aspects and techniques of Noongar art, reflected in her work today. Christine then began experimenting with different styles and techniques with the support of her family and friends.

 Christine has also spent a few years in the Kimberley, where she developed her skills by adopting the techniques of Aboriginals in the Northern Territory.

 By 1997, Christine had been selling her works through an Aboriginal art gallery in Perth.  Her first joint exhibition followed shortly after, in 2005, when she and fellow artists Mingi May Barnes, Geoff Lindsey, and Tjinanginy exhibited in Perth and Cottesloe. 

 In 2009 Christine exhibited her work with various other artists in Perth and San Francisco in the “Colours of Australia” exhibition.

 Christine works with media such as canvas, pottery, wood, and glass. She often uses dots to create bright and colourful patterns.

The meanings behind her artwork

According to Aboriginal lore, the Maroon Bush, also known as "Scaevola spinescens," is a sacred plant with potent healing properties, often associated with stories of individuals being cured from serious illnesses like cancer through its use as a tea, particularly in Western Australia where the plant is native; one notable story recounts an Aboriginal man named Albert Nebrong who is said to have overcome tongue cancer with the help of Maroon Bush tea, contributing to its widespread use in traditional medicine.