Hughie Ahwon
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.
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.
artworks
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
Someone somewhere heard the humming,
but they're not here they're not coming.
-Hughie Ahwon
Mixed media on canvas
76 × 92 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
11 x 22 x 3 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
10 x 12 x 8 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
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
15 x 23 x 2 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
12 x 12 x 5 cm
“Civil Dusk is a story of the past and present, reflecting through the walls and windows of modern society. The timeless land, songs and dance, somewhere in the distance slowly fading, but not yet forgotten.” - Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 x 122 cm
There are four tribes located here in the East and West Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia. Each has their Wandjina Creation Spirits. In this painting we have Ngawah, the Wunambul tribe Wandjina Spirit in the centre, along with Kwini tribe and Ngarinman tribe Wandjina on each side.
During the cooler climate of March to August these three tribes would gather annually, where trade and intertribal marriages would be arranged. These gatherings are celebrated with the sharing of song and dance along with a large feast. The large red hill kangaroo and the smaller rock wallabies were hunted by the men each day and the women would collect the long neck turtles, dug up from the mud in dry waterholes.
The story of such events is not only in this painting, it can be found and seen depicted on the rock faces hidden in the mountain ranges and gorges of this vast and beautiful part of the world.
-Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 × 122 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
14 x 20 x 3 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
22 x 27 x 4 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
23 x 30 x 3 cm
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
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
14 x 20 x 3 cm
The rock art tells the story of the Wandjina Creation Spirits, it's people and their stories. The Kwini tribe, the Wunambul, the Wororra and the Ngaringin tribe. Each tribe have their own Wandjina Creation Spirit, lore, song and dance, Dreamtime stories all told within its boundaries. These gatherings would often involve 2 to 3 tribes each year whereupon trade would take place, intertribal marriages arranged and the sharing of each other's song and dance. The feast would be hunted and collected by the men and women; fish and kangaroo, along with the long neck turtles, a tribal delicacy.
-Hughie Ahwon
Ochre on rock
27 x 31 x 2 cm
This painting with 3 Wandjina Creation Spirit or more and handprints can be found scattered out on the many rock faces and stone shelters throughout the East and West Kimberley region. This part of the world is the home of 4 major tribes. The Kwini tribe, Wunambul, Ngaringmin and Worrora. Each tribe has their own Wandjina Creation Spirit. Over the years these four tribes, through trials and tribulations, have come to settle and forged a memorandum of understanding with each other. With collective ceremonial gatherings, they would trade, share songs and dance, and arrange inter-tribal marriages.
-Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 x 62 cm
There are four tribes located here in the East and West Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia. Each has their Wandjina Creation Spirits. In this painting we have Ngawah, the Wunambul tribe Wandjina Spirit in the centre, along with Kwini tribe and Ngarinman tribe Wandjina on each side.
During the cooler climate of March to August these three tribes would gather annually, where trade and intertribal marriages would be arranged. These gatherings are celebrated with the sharing of song and dance along with a large feast. The large red hill kangaroo and the smaller rock wallabies were hunted by the men each day and the women would collect the long neck turtles, dug up from the mud in dry waterholes.
The story of such events is not only in this painting, it can be found and seen depicted on the rock faces hidden in the mountain ranges and gorges of this vast and beautiful part of the world.
-Hughie Ahwon
Kimberley earth and mixed media on canvas
92 x 62 cm