Ambrose Killian

Aweme (Listen), 2020

Acrylic on canvas

Country on Canvas 1.0 Exclusive Collection

152cm x 51cm

Ambrose’s pull towards the night sky presents a new addition to his works in Aweme (pronounced Ah-wom-ah). This beautiful feature piece attempts to depict the importance of learning and listening to your elders.

Both the emu and kangaroo silhouettes are shown as 1 adult and 1 youngling. The young animals are watching, learning and replicating what they are shown and taught by their elders. This ensures their survival in some of the harshest terrains and environments in the world – central desert of Australia.

From here, our eyes move towards the group of humans around the fire. The father pointing towards the Milky Way and constellations of the night sky, telling stories of The Dreaming, which have been passed down for thousands of years.

Each animal painted is shown to be connected to one another through the vine like, fawn-coloured lines, wrapping their way from animal and plant and to the larger pathway and journey line along the bottom of the canvas. This is to symbolise the connection of each living flora and fauna of the country -each playing an important part in the eco system and their niche.