Sam Juparulla Wickman

This painting represents my country on the Tanami, Simpson and Gibson Deserts. Artesian basins and underground water systems exists across the country. Natural Springs are formed on the plains and in rock shelters. Therefore these springs are visited by all the animals – everything in the desert needs water, even humans. The owl is one of the major preditors around the springs and if you follow them in morning or evening they can lead you to water holes where you can wait and hunt for the various birds and mammals, just like they do. The owl hunts in the day and at night along with many other predators, Aboriginal people see these places as a food resource or their supermarkets, pharmacies and hardware stores.