Aunty Nelly Patterson
Acknowledgment to Country
"My studio and Home can be found in the beautiful hinterland on Bundjalung Country. With all my heart I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Bundjalung Nation, and pay my deepest respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. I recognize the ongoing connection that Indigenous people have to their land, culture, and traditions, and I commit to working towards reconciliation and respect for all First Nations people in Australia."
" THROUGH HER EYES THE WORLD SHALL SEE THE ETERNAL LOVE THAT IS TO BE"
A DIVINE UNION
It was an absolute honor for me, as an artist, to have the opportunity to paint Aunty Nelly Patterson. The experience was not just about capturing her image on canvas, but also about honoring her life, her deep connection to the land, and her proud heritage as a member of the Anangu people.
What made this experience even more special was the many synchronistic events that took place over the years leading up to our meeting and my permission to paint her. It was as if the universe was aligning the stars to bring us together and create something beautiful.
Aunty Nelly: Keeper of the Culture at Uluru
Nelly Nungarrayi Patterson is a Senior Anangu Lore woman, born in the 1930s, and grew up with her parents in the outback of Northern South Australia, before the arrival of white settlers or roads in her homelands. As a child, she would walk for several months, covering hundreds of kilometers from Pipalyatjara, her father's country, to Amata, and then on to Omatja near Kata Tjuta, her mother's country. Her grandfather was the custodian of Omatja, and Nelly's deep connection to the land and her people's traditions has been an integral part of her life ever since.
As one of the last Senior Lore women of the Anangu people, Nelly has been campaigning for the preservation of sacred law and culture since the 1950s. She has dedicated her life to teaching and sharing the Tjukurpa, the ancient lore of the desert passed down from Anangu Elders through song, stories, ceremony, and dance. Nelly's work is a celebration of the intricate relationships between people, animals, and the natural world, and a testament to the enduring power of Indigenous culture.
Aunty Nelly has a special connection with Uluru. The rock holds great spiritual significance for the Anangu people, and Aunty Nelly has spent many years in its shadow, learning its secrets and sharing its stories. She considers Uluru to be a living being, and she has spent her life in service to it. She has shared the stories of the Anangu people and the land with visitors, helping to spread understanding of the Anangu culture and respect for the land.
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I am so happy for the opportunity to donate 33% of the proceeds from the sales of any paintings I do and all prints to "The Yamalathari Association". Established to raise funds to support the well-being of mob Elders and their families, particularly those in rural and remote areas. All funds go directly to the Elders most in need of support.
As an artist, I believe that my work should not just be about self-expression but also about creating positive change in the world. Painting Aunty Nelly Patterson was not just a privilege, it was also a responsibility to use my talent to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Anangu people and to raise awareness about the importance of protecting their land and way of life.