Ngayuku Walka / My Design
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.
In Yindjibarndi Country there were two men that have been initiated through the Lore. They walked around the Country til they found a pretty bird – the 28 parrot – killed and ate it because it was a secret bird. Then a big wind came. It was a rainbow serpent coming for them in a vicious way, cutting through the land, creating rivers and pools along the way. As soon as the serpant for them, they were swallowed through his anus and brought back out as two cockatoos…!
A special place from the heart Tableland from our old people that are left behind. There are still some here to acknowledge, teach, respect what they’ve learnt growing up. “Country” nowadays, there’s no transport to go there to show our younger ones who are the next generations. To generate to Country from our blood “The Yindjibarndi”. There’s plenty to see, show it, share it. This is our Old People’s Home.
The ocean has its own way of showing its beauty. The sea, you don’t know where it’s coming and going from. It makes you wonder. It blows my mind away that the ocean makes it’s own patterns on rocks and even the beauty of the sand that has been washed ashore with shells and weeds. It paints its own beautiful picture. For us locals that live in this environment we have a choice of going inland gathering food like kangaroo or out to the ocean, to the sea, where we know there is food like crabs and fish. We can enjoy the scenery, walking along the beach with the mangroves and the kids can play in the sand. I am fascinated by the ocean, it sparkles in the sun and I feel the beautiful sea breeze. I love the time spent out there simply enjoying the day.
In the last light of the day, the wildflowers and Country take on new colours. In the earth you can see glimmers of darker copper colours and deep burgundy as the last light of the day hits the Pilbara. The pinks represent the mulla mulla flowers and the desert sturt pea has changed from bright red to a subtle bronze red.