Pamp (Swamp) 2009

One of Mavis Ngallametta’s earliest works, Pamp (Swamp) resulted from the women’s painting sessions at the Wik and Kugu Art Centre in Aurukun. In their works, the Aurukun women often depicted the riotous scenes of post-wet season abundance — a seasonal phenomenon well known to people who live just feet above the swamp line. Many of her early works were likewise bold and celebratory: swamps with brightly coloured waterlilies, people collecting flowers, and families fishing and camping at their favourite spots. In describing this work, the artist explained:

This is the big swamp near Aurukun. There are many different coloured waterlilies and plenty of birds at the swamp. People used to go to the swamp and get the roots of the waterlilies for food and medicine.

Here, the swamps are seen from above, with the waterlilies in the centre showing Ngallametta’s varied approach to composition. Framing the canvas and encroaching on the oasis-like swamp are forests of paperbark trees, recalling the aerial perspectives in the work of Australian landscape painter William Robinson.