DAVID BROWN - KARILWARRA
DAVID BROWN
KARILWARRA, 2024
60 x 60 cm
ochre and pigment on canvas
REGION
Kununurra, WA
PROVENANCE
Waringarri Arts, WA
Art Leven, NSW
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Waringarri Arts
STORY
In this painting, David Brown Jangala depicts Karilwarra, a prominent hill and sacred site tied to the story of the desert python. According to ancestral Tjukurpa, the python emerged from a cave in the hill and slid down the rocky slope in search of food, carving the landscape as he moved. His journey gave rise to the spring and river that now flow through this area, shaping both the physical terrain and its spiritual significance. Through layered dotting and subtle movement across the canvas, Brown renders the tracks of the python and the presence of water, marking a vital moment in the creation of Country.
“Karilwarra is the large hill on the left-hand side,” Brown explains, “and is the place where the desert python came out of a cave and slid down the rocks looking for food. He created the spring and river along the way.” This painting serves as a visual record of that creation story, passed down through generations. It links ancestral action with living geography, reminding viewers that every feature of the land holds meaning. Brown’s work continues the role of storyteller, keeping the knowledge of Karilwarra strong and present through paint.
EXHIBITED
David Brown | Ngurra Ngayunku (My home), Art Leven Sydney, July 5 - 26 2025
ARTIST PROFILE
