About this artwork
Marie has painted a Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) story for her country north of Balgo around Purkitji (Sturt Creek). This story is about a snake that travelled from a distant country and decided to stay in Purkitji. There were already two other snakes in this area who were upset by the strangers arrival and they were responsible for teaching the new snake the laws of their country. The light lines represents the wet seasons overflow known as ‘milkwater’. This milkwater leads to Lake Gregory where the snakes reside. Marie’s father told her this story and he also told her that the morning star, known as Kiki, a spirit man would sing for the water to rise every wet season and flow into the great lake. Kiki was responsible for bringing the ‘cheeky’ snake down into Purkitji.