In 2019, BP Australia marked its centenary, celebrating a hundred years of operations and contribution to Australia’s energy landscape. To commemorate the milestone, BP commissioned six artists from across the country to create works that reflected both the company’s legacy and the diverse stories of modern Australia. Each piece offered a unique perspective on history, progress, and community, culminating in a national exhibition honouring BP’s centenary.
Among the commissioned artists was Charmaine Pwerle, a celebrated Anmatyerre woman from the Utopia region and daughter of renowned artist Barbara Weir. Charmaine was invited to bring her cultural lens to the project, producing an artwork that defined a new representation of traditional Aboriginal art within a corporate context.
Awelye Dreaming - A Story Passed down
Charmaine’s piece drew inspiration from the ancestral stories of Awelye (Women’s Ceremony), a Dreaming passed down from her grandmother, the legendary Minnie Pwerle and her mother Barbara Weir. Using bold, gestural brushstrokes and vibrant patterns, Charmaine’s work carried forward her family’s artistic legacy while grounding BP’s celebration within a story of cultural continuity.
The artwork connected themes of ceremony, resilience, and collective responsibility to the narrative of BP’s 100-year journey, a reminder that true legacy is always shared across generations.
By commissioning Charmaine, BP not only recognised its centenary but also embraced the importance of Aboriginal voices in shaping Australia’s story. Her interpretation brought together two worlds — the longevity of one of the nation’s leading companies and the 60,000-year-old traditions of Aboriginal culture.
The exhibition demonstrated how corporate milestones can be enriched by cultural storytelling, creating space for Indigenous artists to showcase their work on national platforms. Charmaine’s participation was a proud moment for her family and community, reaffirming the power of art to both honour heritage and inspire new conversations in contemporary settings.
Read more about BP’s centenary and the commissioned artists.
