Hughie Ahwon
Hughie Ahwon was born on Creswell Downs Station, Barkley Tablelands, NT in 1965, where his father, Edward, was working as a stockman. Edward Ahwon was from Spring Creek Station, WA, and his mother Gracie Ned, was from Borroloola in the NT. Hughie, his brother Robert and sisters Susan, Marjorie and Audrey grew up and attended school in Wyndham. After Hughie finished school, he worked as both a stockman and a house painter. After several years, he then shifted careers and commenced work in government departments such as Aboriginal Legal Services, and Children’s Services.
Incredibly, given the depth of his artistic talent, Hughie only started painting seriously 16 years ago. His creative endeavours were inspired by the old boab carvers in Wyndham. While these carvers had not been granted the same educational opportunity as Hughie, they had lifelong experience and incredible raw talent. His mentors were Octa Carroll (father of senior ochre artist, Tommy Carroll), Alan Carroll and Leslie Evans.
In early 2010, eager to learn the technical components of painting, Hughie moved to Cairns to participate in and learn from its intense and rich artistic culture. Recognising his immense talent, a local art gallery soon began exhibiting his exciting and innovative works. As well as painting, Hughie has also produced stunning etchings and linocuts.
Hughie now resides in Kununurra, East Kimberley, with his family. Inspired by his country and kin, he has developed a fantastically unique style of painting, which includes the use of real Kimberley soil, mud, and ochre. Using a secret binding technique of his own design, Hughie mixes the raw elements into a slurry that he then dries on the canvas in the sun before painting over with acrylic paint. The resulting cracking effect is singularly exclusive to Hughie’s works, and we encourage the viewer to touch the canvas and feel the connection to country, as well as the deep love and respect that Hughie feels for his land and his people.
My name is Hughie Ahwon. I am a Wunambul man, my skin is Djubidja. I paint the Wandjina and stories that were told to me from my elders of the Wunambul tribal. I paint these stories hoping to pass them onto the younger generation of the Kimberley region.
We have to look back to see how far we have come. And in the wake of those who've come and gone I am caught somewhere in the middle.
The changing of the guards so to speak. We sit and watch the world, developments set by those hidden in the shadows.
Big cities, bright lights, nuclear energy, conflicts and war. It doesn't look good at all.
We have to look back to see how far we have come.
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
91 × 122cm
artworks
Someone somewhere heard the humming,
but they're not here they're not coming.
-Hughie Ahwon
Mixed media on canvas
76 × 92 cm
My people's very existence - along with our tribal lore, song, dance and stories of our Dreamtime that connects us to the country geographically, physically and spiritually - is still alive.
In some places however, sadly it is almost nonexistent. Resiliency though, with every fall of footsteps, we follow the path to survival, some falling by the wayside, others on the outer or on the scrapheap of society.
I'm from the few, the lucky ones I guess, who still know my culture and tribal tongue.
This painting is a reflection of the East Kimberley region and its people.
My people.
The home of the Wandjina Creation Spirits.
-Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
80 x 100 cm
Though the road ahead is long and winding, we have to look back to see how far we have come.
Distant but yet not cold, I can still feel my ancestor’s spirits moving, restless,
somewhere deep down inside.
-Hughie Ahwon
This painting represents and tells the story of existing tribes throughout most of Australia. It's the story of each tribes boundary and how they integrate with neighbouring clans through song and dance, trade, storytelling, tribal marriage arrangements and cultural knowledge sharing. Each tribe has a song and dance for their respected geographical boundaries, where it starts to where it ends. This system and practice is in place in most but not all tribes in Australia. - Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 x 122 cm
From where it is that we’ve come from to the here and now.
Once free from the madness of progress.
Every day now feels like we’re walking on a tightrope, collectively gathered like a storm.
Don’t know when or where, or if we’re going to fall. - Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 x 122 cm