Wilkinkarra (2005) by Mitjili Napanangka Gibson 103x74cm

Wilkinkarra (2005) by Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, 103 x 74 cm

Wilkinkarra is Lake Mackay, a vast salt lake straddling the Northern Territory and Western Australia. According to artist Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, this was an important walkabout place for her father ( Tjapangardi) and her sisters ( Napanangkas). They would camp by the lake before journeying into the surrounding country to hunt.

A significant Dreaming story connected to Wilkinkarra, which Mitjili was able to share to some extent, tells of a Tjapangardi man who spins a hairstring, saying, "Like this one on my head."

Born in Winparrku in the Western Desert in 1932, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson (1932–2011) was a respected Indigenous Australian artist and actress. She began painting after observing her niece, Dorothy Napangardi, who was already an established artist. Mitjili’s works gained widespread recognition, particularly at the 2007 Melbourne and Sydney Art Fairs, and she was shortlisted for the 2009 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Beyond her visual art, Mitjili was also known for her contributions to Australian cinema. She played Delilah's Nana in Warwick Thornton's acclaimed film Samson and Delilah (2009), a performance that earned her a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2009 AFI Awards. She had previously starred in Thornton’s short film Nana, where she played the title role.

Mitjili Napanangka Gibson’s artistic and cultural contributions remain a lasting testament to her deep connection to country, storytelling, and tradition.