Charmaine Pwerle BP Energy Artwork Interview

Charmaine Pwerle – Alice Springs

As part of BP Australia's centenary celebrations, six artists from around the country have been commissioned to create bespoke artwork representing the land, and BP's past, present and future commitment to Australia.

The collaboration aims to celebrate both the last 100 years of BP energy in Australia, and look forward to the next century.

The six artists will work across a variety of media and use their personal style to produce the final pieces, an individual interpretation of BP's place within the Australian community. The final pieces will be revealed at the end of July.

Interview with Charmaine Pwerle

Charmaine Pwerle, daughter of Barbara Weir and granddaughter of Minnie Pwerle, hails from one of Aboriginal art's great painting dynasties. Although often compared to her grandmother, Charmaine's work takes on a whole new style and is defining a new tradition for Aboriginal art.

Charmaine's subject matter draws from "Awelye Dreaming' which represents stories passed down for generations, and this will be prominent in her collaborative piece with BP.

Question: What originally inspired your passion for Indigenous art?

Charmaine Pwerle: I got into aboriginal art as a teenager, I used to sit with my family members such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gloria Petyarre and my mum; Barbara Weir while they painted and explained the dreamtime stories to me. The way that the deep connection and respect to our culture and land that is told through the stories is amazing and how it is painted is absolutely beautiful to me.


Question: How have you placed your own style on your grandmother's art?

Charmaine Pwerle: I am doing the same dreaming as my Nanna, the late Minnie Pwerle as it was given to me through ceremony, she has passed the story down to her children and grandchildren and it will continue to be passed down through the generations. The way that I paint Awelye represents the happiness and pride I feel about my dreaming.


Question: Where do you find inspiration when creating artwork?

Charmaine Pwerle: I get inspiration from the stories that have been given to me through my Mother; Barbara Weir. When I paint, I think of the happy times I had out on the community with family. I felt very proud and excited when I was told about my dreaming and have a lot of respect for my culture and I apply that to my artwork.

Question: Can you tell us about your piece for BP?

Charmaine Pwerle: The main inspirations are the Atnwengerrp area (my Mother's country) and Awelye (Women's ceremonies and body paint). My painting in celebration of BP Australia 100 year milestones represents my dreamtime 'Awelye Atnwengerrp'. To give you a more in depth explanation, it is when the women paint each other's breasts and upper bodies with ochre markings, before dancing in a ceremony. The body designs are important and, painted on chest and shoulders, they relate to each particular woman's dreaming. The circles in these designs represent the sites and movement where the ceremonies take place. The lines in the painting depict the tracks that her people made as they trekked across the country in search of food and dry river beds. The large semicircular shapes represent the sandhills and valleys. In respects of the celebration, I utilised the BP primary colours into my piece.


Question: What message do you hope this artwork spreads?

Charmaine Pwerle: I want to continue to tell our stories to a global audience and to give the broader audience the opportunity to learn about the Aboriginal culture in a stronger and more meaningful way.


Question: Where can we see more of your work?

Charmaine Pwerle: Pwerle Gallery, Adelaide
Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
Artmob, Hobart
Delmore Gallery
Original and authentic aboriginal art, Melbourne
Playa proper fine art, Alice springs
Alpitye art studio, Alice springs Harvey Gallery, Mossman


Interview by Brooke Hunter