Kunamarra (hunting place) - David Brown Jangala

In this painting, David Brown Jangala reflects on the desert’s seasonal rhythms, capturing a time when the creeks and swamps run cold and are less inviting for swimming. The work conveys the stillness and quiet of the landscape during this colder period, using a restrained palette and delicate dotting to evoke the subtle shifts in temperature and life. Though the water is too cold for swimming, Brown notes that this season brings its own patterns, attracting certain bush tucker animals and marking an important phase in the cycle of Country.

“When it is cold here in the desert, the water in all the creeks and swamps is too cold for swimming,” Brown explains. “During this time of year, the water’s coldness attracts limited bush tucker animals so we look forward to the changing seasons.” The painting embodies this anticipation and respect for the land’s natural cycles, reminding viewers of the close relationship between people, environment, and the passage of time in the Western Desert. Through his work, Brown honours these rhythms and the enduring connection to Country that guides life throughout the year.