Beverley Egan
About Bev
Beverley Egan was born in Mullewa on 21 August 1961. She is a Yamatji woman who speaks the Wadjarri language. She maintains strong links with her country and traditional culture in the Murchison/Gascoyne Region and regularly returns for family events. Her cousin is Betty Egan, and her niece is Loretta Egan, both well-known artists.
Beverley has lived most of her life in Perth with her husband (who is also Yamatji) and her two sons. She was taught by her niece Loretta and has also worked with Bundi Arts, working with ceramic art.
A well-respected artist, Beverley paints women’s stories and stories from her family’s country in the Murchison area. Her work is held in many private collections. Currently, she is painting with acrylic on canvas for several different galleries.
About the artwork
In this artwork, Beverley portrays the convergence of two tribes, symbolized by the U-shaped forms, each accompanied by traditional ceremonial tools. The central focus of the painting is a fire or campsite, serving as a gathering point for families. Extending from the centre is the root system of a bush plant, symbolizing the resilient familial bonds maintained by both groups. Robust intertribal and familial connections are instrumental in fostering a contented and robust existence for Aboriginal people throughout the Perth/Murchison region.
The human footprints depicted in the artwork represent women's journeys between the two tribes. These journeys involve the exchange of knowledge, active participation in ceremonial practices, and the preservation of communal spirit. The painting manifests the enduring bond between Australian Aboriginal people and their land while concurrently serving as a commercial enterprise generating income for the artists and their community. The adaptation of traditional art forms to a European medium in the Murchison River region during the early 1970s catalyzed an outpouring of artistic ingenuity and dynamism, functioning as a political reaffirmation of the sustained significance of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Beverley's artistic endeavours centre on women, who conventionally convene to exchange knowledge and narratives. These regular gatherings serve as a cornerstone of their way of life, uniting women from diverse groups and families. The dots within the painting are a tribute to past, present, and future Aboriginal individuals who have traversed the land, disseminating knowledge, preserving culture, and imparting customs, pride, and unity to younger generations.
