This painting is about Maureen’s grandmother’s country in the Gibson Desert near Kulkurta, Central Australia. Her mother and siblings were all born here so Maureen feels a strong connection to this part of the lands. There are many water holes in the desert which become important landmarks as water is scarce. Families travel from rockhole to rockhole to camp and collect water. Maureen has included these in her painting as well as the tali (sand hills)
When I was a little kid me and my family used to go hunting for tjala (honey ants) in the bush and we used to see a lot of ikarka under the mulga trees. The birds were collecting snails and little shiny things like glass, necklace, anything that shines, sometimes even money. Those birds collect anything and everything that’s pretty.
Ikarka have a big nest in the long grass and they sit in the middle. They hide the shiny things under the snail shells. We used to move the snails and find the things they’ve hidden. Dad always said ‘go and play in the bush and you might get lucky’ and I did, I found $1 and $2 coins.
When I was a little kid me and my family used to go hunting for tjala (honey ants) in the bush and we used to see a lot of ikarka under the mulga trees. The birds were collecting snails and little shiny things like glass, necklace, anything that shines, sometimes even money. Those birds collect anything and everything that’s pretty.
Ikarka have a big nest in the long grass and they sit in the middle. They hide the shiny things under the snail shells. We used to move the snails and find the things they’ve hidden. Dad always said ‘go and play in the bush and you might get lucky’ and I did, I found $1 and $2 coins.
Walka means design or pattern. Artists use this title to describe artworks that are pattern based rather than descriptive or telling a story.
This design is based on the many native flowers that grow locally in Pukatja and through the Musgrave Ranges. When we go out to the bush, we see all the different colours from many plants growing. Flowers are important to the women and the health of the land, and much excitement is felt as they burst into life.
