Untitled 2005

Makinti Napanangka made this untitled painting sometime before 2011 with a loaded brush, dragging and dabbing ochre and white paint across the surface. It looks like she really understood how artmaking is all about the process, each stroke a step in a larger dance. The texture is amazing, isn't it? You can almost feel the ridges and valleys of the paint. That warm ochre color, laid on thick, makes me think of the Australian desert, of sun-baked earth. The white lines, kind of wobbly and uneven, create this vibrating rhythm that's almost dizzying. Check out how each mark is distinct, yet together they create a unified field. It's like she's capturing the energy of the landscape itself. This piece makes me think of Agnes Martin, with her quiet grids and subtle variations. Both artists use repetition to create something that's both simple and profound. It’s a testament to how much can be said with just a few colors and a simple gesture.