Desert Lake is a book combining artistic, scientific and Indigenous views of a striking region of north-western Australia. Paruku is the place that white people call Lake Gregory. It is Walmajarri land, and its people live on their Country in the communities of Mulan and Billiluna.
The Walmajarri people of Paruku understand themselves in relation to Country, a coherent whole linking the environment, the people and the Law that governs their lives. These understandings are encompassed by the Waljirri or Dreaming and expressed through the songs, imagery and narratives of enduring traditions. Desert Lake is embedded in this broader vision of Country and provides a rich visual and cross-cultural portrait of an extraordinary part of Australia.
Watch a fascinating behind-the-scenes video of the people, art, science and stories from Paruku.
Listen to Kim Mahood interviewed on ABC Kimberley about growing up in the desert and her work on Desert Lake.
Desert Lake is a book combining artistic, scientific and Indigenous views of a striking region of north-western Australia. Paruku is the place that white people call Lake Gregory. It is Walmajarri land, and its people live on their Country in the communities of Mulan and Billiluna.
This is a story of water. When Sturt Creek flows from the north, it creates a massive inland Lake among the sandy deserts. Not only is Paruku of national significance for waterbirds, but it has also helped uncover the past climatic and human history of Australia. Paruku's cultural and environmental values inspire Indigenous and other artists, they define the place as an enduring home, and have led to its declaration as an Indigenous Protected Area.
The Walmajarri people of Paruku understand themselves in relation to Country, a coherent whole linking the environment, the people and the Law that governs their lives. These understandings are encompassed by the Waljirri or Dreaming and expressed through the songs, imagery and narratives of enduring traditions. Desert Lake is embedded in this broader vision of Country and provides a rich visual and cross-cultural portrait of an extraordinary part of Australia.
Bringing Indigenous knowledge, art and science together to develop a greater appreciation and sharing of values between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
Working with Walmajarri people and writing about their public knowledge in a collaborative and culturally-sensitive manner
Using innovative visual representations to highlight the new ways of 'seeing' that are often necessary precursors to new kinds of knowing in science, policy and other realms, taking a cue from the strong Aboriginal tradition of visual art as a medium of communication
Provides a collaborative model of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary partnerships that may well provide a template for future environmental projects
List of contributors
Biographies
Map of Paruku
Acknowledgements
Welcome
Introduction Part 1: Deep time
Chapter 1: Everything comes back to here
Chapter 2: Earth science in traditional lands: bridge or barrier? Part 2: Recent times
Chapter 3: A Lake in time: histories of Paruku
Chapter 4: Mulan story
Chapter 5: Water of life
Chapter 6: The living world
Chapter 7: We have come to the shores: an artist’s diary
Chapter 8: The shape of the Lake
Chapter 9: Thinking about painting Part 3: The future
Chapter 10: A strong community for the future
Glossary of Walmajarri words
Partners
Desert Lake. Art, Science and Stories from Paruku Folio and DVD
Index
People interested in reading about where art and science intersect
Readers interested in the natural landscapes of northern Australia
People interested in Indigenous culture
Artists, galleries and museums
Scientific editor, Steve Morton, an ecologist, has undertaken most of his work in the Australian deserts. He is Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences.
Mandy Martin is an internationally renowned artist. Desert Lake is her third major collaborative project in the Australian deserts incorporating art, science and story. She is an Artist and Adjunct Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University.
Writer and artist, Kim Mahood, grew up on Tanami Downs Station to the east of Paruku, and has strong connections with Walmajarri people, some of whom worked for her family. Kim has worked as Liaison Officer for the Paruku Indigenous Protected Area.
John Carty’s expertise in anthropology and Aboriginal art has arisen from years of work in the Western Desert, Pilbara and Kimberley. He is a Doctoral Candidate, Research School of Humanities, Australian National University.
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