Lupulnga 2001

Makinti Napanangka made Lupulnga, probably using acrylic paint on canvas to create these honey-colored bands, layered with white lines. Looking at it, I see a process of repetition and rhythm. It’s like she’s mapping the land but also the act of painting itself. The texture is key here, isn’t it? You can almost feel the ridges of the paint, thick in some places, thinner in others, giving it this grounded quality. The brushstrokes feel direct and honest, like a record of her hand moving across the surface. Focus on one of the yellow lines, how it wavers and curves, never quite perfect, but full of life. It reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet grids, but with an earthier, more improvisational feel. Napanangka's work feels so connected to the Australian landscape, yet also speaks to something universal about mark-making and the beauty of imperfection. It reminds me that art is an ongoing conversation, full of echoes and resonances.