Acrylic
on Belgian linen
150 x 100 cm
Boxer has depicted country along Purkitji (Sturt Creek) called Wirrilag. Boxer
is the traditional owner of this country and knows all facets of Purkitji. The
central vertical line depicts the main channel of Purkitji while the smaller
hook shapes are the many, small tributaries that run into Purkitji. The main
horizontal channel in the painting shows the river flowing from Carranya Station
and the remaining strong vertical lines show the black soil country.
PROVENANCE
Warlayirti Artists, Halls Creek,Catalogue Number 1308/02
Boxer is a community elder living in Kururrungku Community, which is also known
as Billiluna. He and his two brothers are custodians for the country and the
stories of the Sturt Creek area. Boxer’s paintings all depict different
physical and mythological aspects of the middle and upper stretches of Sturt
Creek. He often depicts the flooding of the creek, and the changes to the country
this brings, both during the flooding and after the water starts to recede.
The area of Milnga-Milgna is a major flood plain for Sturt Creek and inundated
every summer after the rains. This is important for all nature, including people,
and the artist’s family who have always lived here, ‘look after’ the
area by keeping its associated Law and ceremonies. A significant portrayal of
the water in Boxer’s paintings of Sturt Creek is white, depicting the ‘milk
water’ which runs after rain has fallen in the clay soils upstream of Billiluna.
His work includes wonderful rainbows, rain clouds and the temporary creeks that
are formed during the wet season.
REPRESENTED
National Gallery of Victoria
University of Western Australia
Kerry Stokes Collection
Kluge Ruhe Collection, University of Virginia, USA
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