KATHLEEN NGAL - ARNWETKY (BUSH PLUM)

KATHLEEN NGAL
ARNWETKY (BUSH PLUM),  2010
synthetic polymer paint on linen
121.5 x 91 cm
 
PROVENANCE
Delmore Gallery, NT Cat No. 10B060
 
STORY
In this quietly luminous painting, Kathleen Ngal turns to a cool palette of blue, white, and soft cream to evoke the shimmering presence of Arnwekety (Bush Plum) Country. Her fine, feathered strokes create a gentle, undulating surface, an abstracted vision of desert vegetation, shifting light, and the seasonal renewal of this important ancestral food source. The work carries the meditative quality for which Ngal is renowned, drawing the viewer into a landscape that feels both expansive and deeply intimate.
 
A distinct feature of this painting is a pair of deliberate lines composed of concentrated blue dots. These small ceremonial traces anchor the composition, suggesting pathways, markers, or areas of abundance within the broader field. Their presence brings a rhythmic clarity to the work, echoing the careful observation and deep cultural knowledge that guide Ngal’s practice. The result is a serene and refined expression of Arnwekety Dreaming, rich in meaning, poised in execution, and alive with the quiet pulse of Country.