Rocks at Lupulnga 2000

Makinti Napanangka made this painting of Rocks at Lupulnga with acrylic on linen, and it's the kind of piece that just makes you want to dive right in. I love the way the lines ripple across the canvas, like sand after the tide. It’s all about process, you know? The rhythm of the hand, the repetition, and variation of these lines, building up the image bit by bit. It's almost meditative. The ochre and yellow palette gives a sense of warmth, and the little dashes of purple, or lavender, bring in a cool contrast, like shadows on a hot day. Look closely, and you can see how the paint is layered, sometimes thick, sometimes thin, creating this wonderful texture. It's like you can feel the earth, the rocks, the whole landscape under your fingertips. I love how Napanangka just let the paint do its thing. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in that it’s all about the subtle variations and the overall feeling rather than some specific thing. And like Martin, the ambiguity invites multiple interpretations.