'Lilla' Kings Canyon by Vincent Forrester 122x152cm

Kings Canyon by Vincent Forrester Muntjantji 122x152cm

The painting "Lilla" by Vincent Forrester represents Kings Canyon, known for its sweet water. This area is home to three ancestral beings: Wayota (possum), Itjatjarri Itjatjarri (marsupial mole), and Kunia (python). The painting tells the story of one night when these three ancestors stole the bush tucker that Wanambi (rainbow serpent) had hidden near the large waterhole at the side of Uluru.

When Wanambi discovered the bush tucker missing, he became furious and went to Kings Canyon to vent his anger at the three thieves. His rage was so intense that it left black staining on the smooth canyon wall, which can still be seen today.

Inspired by great ochre artists like Rover Thomas, Vincent Forrester's paintings are celebrated for their strength and simplicity of form. Emotionally charged with natural ochres used in ceremonies, these materials are collected by Vincent's aunties, the traditional owners of the region extending to Kata Tjuta and Uluru.

For the Anangu, Kata Tjuta (Many Heads), also known as the Olgas, and Uluru are more than ancient rocks; they are living cultural landscapes filled with sacred sites and stories. The Anangu believe these landscapes were created by ancestral beings and they are the direct descendants of those beings.

Vincent grew up as a stockman and station hand, gaining an intimate knowledge of his country. His grandfathers showed him the landscape and shared the stories associated with his country and Alice Springs, where he became the Aboriginal historian of the area. His grandmothers taught him about bush foods and bush medicine for both Luritja and Aranda country.

In recent years, Vincent has continued to care for this land in various roles, including serving as Chairperson of the Mutitjulu community at Uluru, working at the Alice Springs Desert Park, and running as a candidate for the Greens Party in Alice Springs. Through his artwork and activism, Vincent preserves and highlights the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians, ensuring their traditions and stories are recognized and valued.