Embracing Aboriginal Perspectives:
The Pwerle x Emali Collaboration

Pwerle has partnered with Emali Early Learning Centre, sharing a common goal of celebrating Aboriginal culture and promoting inclusivity within communities. Together, we have initiated a journey to integrate Aboriginal perspectives and cultural experiences into Emali’s curriculum across all centres. For the initial phase in this long-term collaboration, Emali has acquired a bespoke artwork commissioned from the esteemed Aboriginal artist, Charmaine Pwerle.

 

Hover over the painting to explore the deeper meaning behind each symbol. Discover the rich story woven into every detail.

 

A Story of Connection

Infused with vibrancy and meaning, Charmaine’s artwork encapsulates the essence of joy and love, drawing inspiration from her own journey as a parent and her encounters with Emali’s Early Learning Centres.

Discover the essence of our collaboration through insightful videos that delve into The Emali Story, offering glimpses into the inspiration behind the artwork and the captivating narrative of the artist herself.

 

“Our collaboration with Pwerle Gallery has empowered us to deepen our understanding of Australian Aboriginal culture. Through this journey, we were introduced to the remarkable talent of Aboriginal artist Charmaine Pwerle. Raised in the local community of Salisbury, Adelaide, Charmaine’s shared values and experiences make her the perfect collaborator for Emali”

– Natasha Pape, Emali Salisbury Director

 

About the Artwork

The inspiration behind the artwork layout by Charmaine lies in the connection between each Emali Early Learning Centre across South Australia. Using a map that links each centre, Charmaine skillfully crafted a piece that not only reflects the geographical layout but also beautifully captures the essence of Emali’s nurturing spaces. The result is a stunning composition that tells the story of Emali’s journey, connecting families and locations through a harmonious blend of art and geography.

 

The Process

 

While the family members from Atnwengerrp (Utopia) have been painting traditional pieces, passing down Dreamtime stories for generations, Pwerle has elevated these artists’ talents to new heights. By tapping into their traditional artistry, we can now weave the stories of others through our art.

Pwerle dedicated time to comprehend Emali as a business and understand what is meaningful to them and their community. Collaborating closely with company stakeholders, we carefully selected Charmaine Pwerle as the artist best suited to depict their essential values.

Charmaine Pwerle, a loving mother of five, emerged as the perfect artist to champion this new project. Her artwork is vibrant and engaging, designed to captivate young minds and foster an early connection with Aboriginal culture. Drawing inspiration from her experiences as a parent, Charmaine’s creation reflects the profound connections formed with childcare centres. Her artwork captures the trust, joy, and mutual respect between staff and families, embodying the rich friendships and lifelong bonds that often blossom in these centres.

Following the completion of the artwork, we collaborated with talented creatives to adapt the art for various mediums. Starting with a high-resolution image, we then transformed it into a fully vectorised, digital version. This enables Emali to apply their custom artwork across diverse mediums such as uniforms, car wraps, interior displays, and business stationery, offering a versatile solution. This approach, pulling elements as icons to decorate pages, proves to be the most adaptable way to utilise the artwork, especially in documents like Reconciliation Action Plans.

The entire process was seamless and educational for everyone involved. Our goal is to collaboratively work with individuals and companies to narrate memorable stories. For enquiries about embarking on your artistic journey with Pwerle, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

 

To read more about the project, the artwork & its meaning, flip through the book above or click here to download the booklet.

 We would like to thank the creative team who helped us bring this project to life. 🎥 Videography by the talented team at Stepney Studios and the vector digital artwork re-creation by our good friends at We Create Print Deliver.