Karlangu (Digging Sticks) 2004 by Dorothy Napangardi 31x61cm

In this painting, we see a forest of desert oak trees. Very slow growing, their root system is a third (at least) of the tree, reaching far down to access the water. These beautiful trees are quite majestic in this far west part of the central desert of Australia. One can understand the importance they hold in many dreaming stories.

This work, connects us to Dorothy's 'Karntakurlangu Jukurrpa' (which translates as 'belonging to women'), in which Dorothy depicts women of the Napangardi/Napanangka kinship group, dancing through their country, singing the world into existence.