Desmond Taylor is one of five  early career Martumili Artists selected to showcase their works in this year’s Revealed Exhibition.

He was born in 1964 close to the Oakover River. Two years later his family moved into Jingalong and were amongst the last Martu to live entirely in the desert with access to rations.

Desmond went to school in Nullagine and Perth and now works as a professional translator and educator as well as an artist. He primarily paints his family’s Country around Karlamilyl (Rudall River) and the creation stories for that Country, especially the Ngayarta Kujarra Dreaming.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=229272815047342

“I feel pukurlpa, I feel happy when I paint,” he said. “It brings happiness, connection, family. It keeps the stories alive and keeps connection to ngurra, Country.”

For Revealed, Desmond painted three exquisite largescale works on arches paper depicting the Niminjarra story.

“Niminjarra is the two brothers transforming into a snake so they can come back home to Ngayartakujarra (Lake Dora). They were in training for ceremony, those two brothers, but they were kept too long and nobody was there to release them.

“They waited then they decided to transform into snakes to travel back to where they came from, because their mother was waiting for them. This is Jukurrpa (Dreaming story).”

Desmond Taylor, Martumili Artists, Niminjarra, 2020, acrylic on arches paper, dimensions variable

Desmond Taylor (Martumili Artists), Niminjarra (detail), 2020, acrylic on arches paper, 101 x 66cm

Desmond Taylor (Martumili Artists), Niminjarra (detail), 2020, acrylic on arches paper, 105 x 75cm

Desmond Taylor (Martumili Artists), Niminjarra (detail), 2020, acrylic on arches paper, 102 x 66cm

View Desmond’s works and the full Revealed Exhibition at FAC until Sunday 26 July. Free entry