Martumili Arts Centre is based in Newman, WA and services artists living in the remote Gibson Desert community (a 10 hour drive away). May Chapman created this work over a 10 week period in 2011.
The striking longitudinal line work represents the massive sand dunes, swales, endemic vegetation and myriad habitat and bush foods of her country. These dune systems are a defining feature of much of the Great Sandy, Gibson, Victoria, and Simpson Deserts. This strikingly beautiful, but harsh, arid landscape is unique to Australia. Depicted are eight different yinta (waterholes) in the artist's country, where she travelled as a little girl in the pujiman (bushman) days. From left to right are Mukurtu, Wunkarri, Jurtulpa, Warrl, Juntu Juntu, Taarl, Wirtil Wili, and Pintil Pita.
Paintings of this scale and quality by the senior Martu ladies are very special and rare. Few of the artists are still alive and, unfortunately, due to their age, none remain able to paint on this scale with such quality. This is a museum piece - suitable for institutions and major collections.
