Honey Ant Dreaming 1989
Chris Poulsen Tjapangardi
Warlpiri
Yuendumu Central Australia

'Honey Ant Dreaming' was painted in 1989 by Chris Poulsen and his wife Martha Sitzler Poulsen. The painting depicts the travels of the 'Honey Ant Ancestors' mythical beings that traversed the desert regions of Central Australia to a sacred site west of Yuendumu.

The symmetrical circles relate to the 'Honey Ant' nests, the connecting lines are tunnels that link the chambers,radiating from a central circle where the Queen ant is located ,this area of the design is creation and considered to be extremely sacred to Aboriginal people.

Honey Ants are normal ants that store honey in a large sac on their backs, this provides a food source for the worker ants during drought conditions.

Aboriginal women and children dig deep into the red desert sand in mulga forests,searching for this prized delicacy which is sweet and only found easily after rain. Ceremonies are then held to celebrate the abundance of fruit and food the rain produces.

Chris Poulsen Tjapangardi and his wife Martha Sitzler painted 'Honey Ant Dreaming' for Gallery Director Rosemary in Alice Springs.The Poulsens have several children.Vanessa is the eldest and

has inherited her parents artistic ability.

The design relates closely to the on site photograph - shown in the sections index of an original sand painting as it is being constructed by an Aboriginal elder at the Alice Springs show in 1961.The colours used are red ochre (the desert sand) yellow (the sun) - brown (the rocks) and white is considered sacred in many aspects of Aboriginal culture.

Enquiries regarding the painting 'Honey Ant Dreaming' are welcome.