William Sandy

This painting depicts the travels of the Emu ancestors through William Sandy’s mother’s country, which is Pitjantjatjarra land in the North of South Australia. The ancestors performed ceremonies and various other deeds during the world creation Dreamtime period in which features of the landscape were created. These deeds are honoured by the desert Aboriginal people in present day ceremonies at a place called Kaanpi. The red meandering lines represent the emu ancestors on their journey and the concentric circles are the ceremonial sites. These circles also represent the Emu Ancestor and his 2 wives. The dotting symbolises the landscape in that area which consists mainly of sandhills. This painting was the signature work for Art Mob’s solo exhibition of William Sandy’s works “Ancestral Journeys” in February 2008. It was painted at Papunya where the artist resides.