Acrylic on canvas
150 x 75 cm
Patrick has painted the creation story of Purkitji (Sturt Creek) and Paruku
(Lake Gregory). The linear movements throughout the centre of the painting
are the creeks, such as Ngayimangayima, during the Tjukurrpa (Dreamtime) the
Wangarra (Rainbow Serpent) created these as it travelled along Purkitji to
Paraku. The blue and white semi circles represent the milkwater that run through
Purkitji today as well as the various areas of the Paraku. The brown semi circles
are the tali or sandhills that surround Paraku and the ‘U’ shapes
in the upper left section of the painting is the Watjangana women, ancestors
associated with freshwater mussels found in the lake. While the yellow ‘U’ shapes
are the ancestors of the catfish and are of the same skin group as the artist.
The ‘U’ shapes to the
far right represent the Yawu fish people, ancestors of the fish caught in the
lake today.
PROVENANCE
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills, Western Australia, painted 2003,
Catalogue number 1231/03
Patrick’s father ’s country is Tanami Downs and his mother ’s
is Kanningarra on the Canning Stock Route. His father worked as a gardener
at Sturt Creek Station where Patrick was born.
This is where he went through law with snake dreaming and where he started a
long life of
stock work; droving, mustering and branding. He travelled as far as Alice Springs
droving
cattle.
Patrick helped with the building of the old mission and later moved
to Balgo where his children could go to school. Patrick is knowledgeable in
tracking, hunting, fishing, bush medicine and traditional law. He currently
cares for the old people of Balgo by providing meals on wheels.
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