Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Wayne and Vicki McGeoch. National Museum of Australia
While living in Warakurna, artist Ken Shepherd had the chance to visit his father’s country or ngurra. In the painting, he depicts seeing it for the first time, from a helicopter during a native title survey.
Shepherd will pass on the stories of his father’s country, Walpirnta, to his son.
Connection to country is an important part of Aboriginal culture and traditions. Sometimes it can be hard to express.
Questions
Why do you think Shepherd was an adult when he saw his father’s country for the first time?
What historic moments in Australian history may have prevented Shepherd from travelling to his father’s country when he was younger?
Why do you think the artwork is mostly red?
Ken Shepherd
Born 1965, Karimarra skin group
Ken Shepherd was born in the Western Australian goldfields, where his family had moved seeking work, but his father was born at Wapintja, a pinnacle in the middle of a vast area of sand dune country to the north of the Rawlinson Range.
Shepherd settled at Warakurna when his family returned to their country in 1974.
