ET, 1990 by Linda Syddick Napaltjarri 90x60cm Cat 1033LSN

Linda has been inspired by the cinema production ET. Throughout the film ET constantly refers to "going home". Linda interpreted this as an ancestral spirit disassociated from its traditional home.

To the Aboriginal people of the central desert it is a commonly held belief that the land for which one is the traditional custodian always has a calling. This is a two way belief that one is called by the ancestors and the country as one has to constantly sing one's country.

The ET series of works painted from 1990 to approximately 1995, show how Linda incorporated new elements and events into her art.

Linda was one of the Pintupi people who made first contact with Europeans around 1964-1968.

Much of Linda's paintings are about country and centred around Lake MacKay, a place where she was born. This area was central to the cultural and spiritual life of the Pintupi people for thousands of years and they would travel to the area on their seasonal journeys, camping on the shores and gathering there for ceremonies.

Lake MacKay is a large dry salt lake that straddles the WA-NT border, north-west of Kintore. On occasion it would fill with water and becomes blue, 'like sea water'. When this occurs birds and animals flock to the area.