Thea Anamara Perkins

This painting is of a site in the Old Telegraph Station in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), and takes the Western figurative landscape tradition and imbues it with the personal and spiritual associations of Country.

This place has a complex history and is the nexus for my own life-long journey deepening my connection with my culture. This body of work came about during lockdown, being unable to travel there I felt a longing for country. I will always return to this subject, just like I will always return to country.

This current series started during the bushfires and has continued through the floods - I think it was a way of processing my fears and grief. Country is our home - we must protect it.