‘It’s good to learn from old people. They keep saying when you paint you can remember that country, just like to take a photo … When the old people die, young people can read the stories from the paintings. They can learn from the paintings and maybe they want to start painting too.’ Using ochres collected on her country in Western Australia’s East Kimberley, Shirley Purdie’s self-portrait is a kaleidoscope of traditional Gija stories and Ngarranggarni (Dreaming) passed down to her.
Purchased 2019
© Shirley Purdie/Copyright Agency, 2021
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