Artist:   Lanita Numina

Region: Darwin, NT

Title:     Women's Ceremony

Size:     148 x 90 cm

Language Group: Anmatyerre

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Lanita Numina is a distinguished contemporary Aboriginal artist from the Northern Territory, and one of the middle sisters in the renowned group of six desert artists that have contributed to the evolution of the Central Desert Dot Painting Movement. Lanita comes from a well-established lineage of desert painters, with her artistic roots tracing back to her mother, Barbara Price Mtjimbana, and her aunties, Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre—all prominent figures in the art world of Alice Springs and the wider desert region.

Lanita spent much of her childhood living with her mother and aunties on Stirling Station, near Ti Tree, a remote area in the heart of the Central Desert. Surrounded by the rich cultural practices of her family, she developed an early connection to the land, its stories, and the deeply ingrained artistic traditions of her people. Although she began painting later than her older sisters, Lanita was naturally drawn to the art form, taught by her sisters and other relatives who shared their knowledge of traditional design and techniques.

Her artistic education also came from her interactions with well-known desert artists in her extended family circle, including her aunties Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre, who are recognised for their exceptional contributions to Aboriginal art. Through these familial connections, Lanita was introduced to the distinctive dot-dot technique of the Central Desert, and she has since made her own mark within the movement.

Lanita primarily resides in Darwin, where she often lives with her sisters, but she maintains close ties to her cultural roots and regularly visits her mother, Barbara, either in Ti Tree or bringing her to Darwin for visits. This bond with her family and the land continues to inform her artistic practice, as Lanita paints stories and symbols that reflect her connection to her Country, ancestors, and the rich desert landscape.

Her works often explore themes of Country, Dreaming, and family lineage, incorporating traditional designs with a contemporary approach. Lanita’s paintings are distinguished by their use of vibrant colours, complex layering, and the intricate dotting technique that reflects both the physical and spiritual connections to the land and its stories.

Women’s Ceremony Dreaming

The Women’s Ceremony Dreaming is a significant cultural narrative from the Northern Territory, passed down through generations of Aboriginal women. This Dreaming represents the powerful and sacred ceremonies performed by women in ceremonial sites across the land. These rituals, often lasting for several days, are central to the spiritual and social life of the community, celebrating connection to Country, identity, and the ancestral stories that sustain them.

Women’s ceremonies are an integral part of Aboriginal culture, where knowledge, traditions, and stories are shared through dance, song, and art. The Dreaming tells of the land’s creation and its deep connection to the lives of women, who are custodians of the land’s wisdom and spiritual power.

In the art, symbols and motifs associated with this Dreaming depict the sacred sites, the body paint used in ceremonies, and the landscape where women gather. Dot painting techniques, vibrant colours, and abstract forms are used to represent the layers of meaning embedded in the ceremony – from the stories of ancestors to the sacred knowledge transmitted from one generation to the next.

The artworks celebrating Women’s Ceremony Dreaming reflect the ongoing importance of women’s roles in maintaining cultural practices, transmitting knowledge, and ensuring the continuation of these vital ceremonies into the future.