Worm Dreaming 2006

Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi made "Worm Dreaming" using dots of paint, and the process is a rhythm as much as it is an image. Look at how the paint sits on the surface; it’s built up, dot by dot, like the land itself forming slowly over time. Each of these dots contains the potential for so much. See how the colors pulse with a subtle vibration, from the pale lilac to the rich browns, like the earth breathing. Notice how the lines aren't perfectly straight; they waver and wander, echoing the natural curves of the landscape and perhaps the meandering path of a worm. It feels like a map, or a memory, laid bare on the canvas. This work reminds me of Hilma af Klint's early explorations of abstract form, both artists tapping into something beyond the surface, a kind of visual language that speaks to the unseen forces around us. Art is this ongoing conversation, and Nungurrayi adds her own unique voice.