Untitled 2005

Makinti Napanangka made this untitled painting using acrylic on canvas. It looks like the kind of thing that happens when you decide not to fuss too much. The ochre and white of the surface are laid on so thick, you could almost reach out and stir it. It’s like she's captured light itself, in these bold and casual stripes. There's no hiding the process. You can see each stroke, each decision, laid bare. But sometimes, the most direct path is the most powerful. It puts me in mind of Agnes Martin’s grids, though Napanangka feels less restrained, more earthy. Both artists use repetition to create a kind of meditative space, but where Martin is all about ethereal calm, Napanangka’s work has this grounded, raw energy. It's a reminder that art isn't just about the final product, it's about the doing, the feeling, the living.