Ngayuku Ngura - My Country, Nturiya (Barbara Moore Ti Tree), 605-22TA , Tjala Arts, Acrylic on Linen, 122 x 198cm
I paint the landscape of my home Country, Nturiya (Ti Tree). A long time ago, long before us, my ancestors lived on this Country. They knew how to live on Country—where they could find water holes, food, and places to shelter with their families. They passed this knowledge down, from daughters to daughters, sons to sons, through the generations to us. I feel happy to paint my Country and proud to tell the stories of my ancestors. Through my painting, I’m teaching my daughters and grandchildren too. I’m doing this for my family — it’s all about my family.
Barbara Mbitjana Moore depicts her beloved Anmatyerre Country, offering aerial perspectives of the landscape, meticulously recalled from memory. Rendered in sweeping arcs of color, Moore portrays the undulating landscapes, rock formations, and waterholes in the environment, acknowledging a rich connection to Country that transcends geographic understanding, and is deeply rooted in belonging, being, and ancestral significance.
