This is the top hill, the top side has caves there, rock holes. Its an old cliff, little kangaroos live on that cliff and in those caves. People were climbing up into those cliffs looking for those boogie men. Sometimes they find him, sometimes they can’t. That bottom half is the water, coming down those hills. In a dreamtime story they fall over the jiljis below, little short jiljis near a camping place on that side.
This place is half way to Kurtal, not too far from here, across from Kaningarri, Walmajarri country, close up to here (Fitzroy Crossing). This is the Red Hill too, not the black soil. Its desert country.
This is the top hill, the top side has caves there, rock holes. Its an old cliff, little kangaroos live on that cliff and in those caves. People were climbing up into those cliffs looking for those boogie men. Sometimes they find him, sometimes they can’t. That bottom half is the water, coming down those hills. In a dreamtime story they fall over the jiljis below, little short jiljis near a camping place on that side.
This place is half way to Kurtal, not too far from here, across from Kaningarri, Walmajarri country, close up to here (Fitzroy Crossing). This is the Red Hill too, not the black soil. Its desert country.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, on and on they go. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt, or with the green grass that comes after. There might be flowers, Putipula, sometimes, or trees, different trees and grasses, and bushtucker.
Walking up and down, around, always moving, hunting, and waking up next to water. Tracking, thinking, smelling, listening, and, moving. Laying down in the shade. Singing songs in the night time, and telling stories.
Tommy was born in the Great Sandy Desert at a soak called Luturr, near Kurtal.
"This painting is about two hills and flat country in the middle that way in the desert my country l use to go hunting and walkabout with my mum and dad when l was a little boy with my brother."
Exhibited at TARNANTHI 2017 (AGSA)
This is the clay pan, near to Kurtal. Its also called Helena Springs, a well on the Canning Stock Route. My brother was born here."This one Kulparti soakwater, desert place, my granny place. My granny she pass away right there."
This is the sandhill country, jilji, on and on they go. In between the jilji, that is called bila, flat country. The jilji can be close, or the bila might be really wide, a few hundred metres. Someone might have burnt that country before. You burn it, and its easier to catch a feed like lizard, and the bush turkeys fly in from everywhere to eat the exposed insects. Bush turkey, that’s good tucker! After fire, grasses grow back and the trees regenerate. We travel in this country, wurna juwal, always travelling from place to place! As you move through country, the type of trees and grasses change, and that determines what you will find, in terms of foods and medicine, or other plants we don’t use. At different times of the year you’ll find beautiful fields of flowers too. On cool mornings you can suck out the nectar of some flowers, before the birds do. Desert oaks are best for shade, they grow together in big numbers, but you don’t find them everywhere. This is an easy story, this is not a story about law. I can tell you.
Read LessThis is the sandhill country, jilji, on and on they go. In between the jilji, that is called bila, flat country. The jilji can be close, or the bila might be really wide, a few hundred metres. Someone might have burnt that country before. You burn it, and its easier to catch a feed like lizard, and the bush turkeys fly in from everywhere to eat the exposed insects. Bush turkey, that’s good tucker! After fire, grasses grow back and the trees regenerate. We travel in this country, wurna juwal, always travelling from place to place! As you move through country, the type of trees and grasses change, and that determines what you will find, in terms of foods and medicine, or other plants we don’t use. At different times of the year you’ll find beautiful fields of flowers too. On cool mornings you can suck out the nectar of some flowers, before the birds do. Desert oaks are best for shade, they grow together in big numbers, but you don’t find them everywhere. This is an easy story, this is not a story about law. I can tell you.
Read LessWalking up and down, around, always moving, hunting, and waking up next to water. Tracking, thinking, smelling, listening, and, moving. Laying down in the shade. Singing songs in the night time, and telling stories.
Tommy was born in the Great Sandy Desert at a soak called Luturr, near Kurtal.
This painting is a story about two men who stayed near Pirliwal.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the old Dreamtime story about the time when Wangkatjungka and Gooniyandi were living together at this waterhole. The Gooniyandi man came through this country, this jila, near to Kurtal, in the dreamtime.
"He was a real man too, I knew him when I was younger, he was living at Goobadiya station, where that is now, his name was Wilja, I don’t remember his Kartiya name."
This painting has song and story, singing and dancing, which is known as Inarra. The painting represents the digging, singing, and dancing that occur when the waterhole is dug. It is a ceremony for digging the jila and bringing the rain.
"On and on, this story has been told and passed on. There’s only three of us now, who were taught by the old people."
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
This is the sandhill country, Jilji, which goes on and on. In between the Jilji, that is called Bila, flat country. The Jilji can be close, or further apart. The land may be burnt or with the green grass that comes after. Sometimes there are flowers, Putipula, or different trees and grasses, as well as bushtucker.
Walking up and down, around, always moving, hunting, and waking up next to water. Tracking, thinking, smelling, listening, and, moving. Laying down in the shade. Singing songs in the night time, and telling stories.
Tommy was born in the Great Sandy Desert at a soak called Luturr, near Kurtal.
At ReDot Fine Art Gallery, we acknowledge all the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands of the artists we represent, both past, present, and emerging. We have profound respect for all Indigenous people, and we strive through a thoughtful and culturally sensitive curation process of their artwork to represent their βTjurkupaβ to our global audience.
We prioritise authentic representation and ensure that the artists' voices and perspectives remain at the forefront of our platformβs objective.
By fostering collaborative partnerships and engaging with community art centres directly, we aim to create a safe and inclusive space that celebrates and preserves Indigenous cultural heritage and its artistic legacy.
At ReDot Fine Art Gallery, we acknowledge all the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands of the artists we represent, both past, present, and emerging. We have profound respect for all Indigenous people, and we strive through a thoughtful and culturally sensitive curation process of their artwork to represent their βTjurkupaβ to our global audience.
We prioritise authentic representation and ensure that the artists' voices and perspectives remain at the forefront of our platformβs objective.
By fostering collaborative partnerships and engaging with community art centres directly, we aim to create a safe and inclusive space that celebrates and preserves Indigenous cultural heritage and its artistic legacy.