19-286 – Helen Samson

“All the flowers, little rockholes, all the flowers are nice colours, some good bush tucker too, also here is the jirntu (sun) going down and stars coming up.”

– Helen Dale Samson

This painting depicts the different colours of the sky above Lake Disappointment near Puntawarri. It shows all of the jalura (clouds) and the sky at sunset. 

This painting portrays physical elements of Martu Country, such as the dominant tali (sandhills), warta (trees, vegetation), and water sources. Rock holes, waterholes, soaks and springs were all extremely important sites for Martu people during the pujiman (nomadic bush) era, with many important jukurrpa (dreamtime stories) chronicling the creation of these landmarks. In the past the Martu lived nomadically, moving from water source to water source, and hunting and gathering bush tucker as they went. They would traverse very large distances annually, visiting specific areas in the dry and wet season depending on the availability of water. As they travelled and hunted they would also burn areas of country creating a larger diversity of plant and animal life.