Mountain Devil Lizard 

Editor: So here we have Kathleen Petyarre’s *Mountain Devil Lizard*. What immediately grabs me is the almost topographical quality, like a satellite view of some unknown, textured planet. It’s quite earthy and subdued in tone. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, I love that image of a textured planet! It really sings to me, perhaps because it offers a glimpse into something deeply personal and spiritual for Petyarre. You know, these aren't just lines and dots; they represent the Dreaming, the ancestral stories and connections to the land. Each mark is a memory, a pathway, a piece of her heritage. The whole canvas breathes with the story of the Mountain Devil Lizard, its movements across the land, its connection to the earth. Do you sense any of that in this 'topographical' view? Editor: I can see that… It feels incredibly intimate, like tracing the lines of someone’s palm, reading a life story. Are the earth tones significant? Curator: Absolutely. They're born of the Australian desert, aren't they? Imagine the colours of the sand, the rocks, the spinifex grass under the harsh sun. But also, think about the ochre used in ceremonies and body painting. The earth *is* the paint, *is* the story. Editor: I never would have thought of it that way. I was stuck on a purely aesthetic level. Now, I see that it's a window into something much bigger. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. Perhaps the true beauty lies not just in what we see, but what we allow it to awaken within us.