On Walkabout

This very traditional Western Desert work clearly depicts the journey of a young man who leaves his family at the top right corner of the painting and undertakes a long walk in search of a partner. Despite visiting many other tribes and family groups he has still not been successful and makes his own camp, or settles at a new site in the top left hand corner. The white snake at each group would indicate fertility and a closeness to or favourable relationship with the earth. Since the place where our young man has settled also has the snake, we believe the young man’s search will have a happy ending.