Hairstring Skirts 2008

Makinti Napanangka made this painting, called Hairstring Skirts, with what looks like earthy pigments on canvas, maybe ochre and clay. Can you imagine the repetitive motion of her hand as she applied each horizontal stroke? I love how the painting almost feels like it's breathing, as if each line is a gentle exhale. The red and white stripes create a kind of rhythmic vibration, pulling you in and making you want to look closer. I wonder if she was thinking about the movement of the dancers, or the way the skirts sway and ripple as they move. There’s a definite energy to it, a kind of understated power that really resonates. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's grids, but with a raw, earthy quality that's all Napanangka's own. You know, painting is such a conversation across time. We build on each other's ideas, push them in new directions, and keep the dialogue going.