Kings Canyon, Lilla Site (2008) by Vincent Forrester, 91x122cm

Kings Canyon, Lilla Site (2008) by Vincent Forrester, 91x122cm

Shimmering ochre patina in large open spaces like the sacred country it depicts - the sacred Lilla Site at Kings Canyon.

This is a dreaming story that has been passed down from his aunties, who have collected the natural ochre in this painting. A Wati (man), represented by the single ochre circle in the back charcoal background is chasing 2 Kungka (women), depicted by the 2 ochre circles in the yellow ochre background.

As a Luritja/Aranda man, a traditional elder of Mutitjulu and born in Alice Springs, Vincent knows his "Country" intimately. Part of the caterpillar Dreaming, this artwork is about Akeyulerre (Billy Goat Hill).

Vincent Forrester's artwork and activism work hand in hand to preserve and highlight the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians. Through his art, he draws attention to both the historical significance and contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous communities, ensuring their traditions and stories continue to be recognized and valued

Growing up as a stockman and station hand, Vincent came to know his country intimately. His grandfather's showed him the landscape and told him the stories, associated with his country and Alice Springs, where he became the Aboriginal historian of the area. His grandmother's showed him bush foods and bush medicine for both Luritja and Aranda country. It was in his teens when working as a cattleman, that the tourism industry was in its infancy and Vincent began working as a tour guide. He later became a very popular guide at Kings Canyon, a ranger at Uluru/Kata Juta National Park and later a specialist guide at Alice Springs Desert Park.