We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time TS Elliot Going on means going far Going far means returning Tao Te Ching By becoming attuned to the land, it is difficult not to become attuned to Aboriginality to some degree. The land and especially the desert is a world of myth and power in its vastness. This vastness of the landscape resonates with the potential of the psyche, and the symbols and motifs in my paintings are born from this experience. With each journey to the interior, I am both moved and inspired by the seemingly endless nature of the inland and desert places. There is an “edge” quality that the more populated and well-serviced coastal areas do not possess. The mystery and sacred quality of the inland invokes the necessity for respect, with knowledge of the deserts inherent dangers and astounding beauty. It is especially symbolic of entering the Unknown. Spending time inland is about finding your own story. The desert takes you deep within yourself as a response to its spaciousness and piercing silence. When inland you feel in one way very small but in another colossal as the soul leaps from its human case and unites with a greater world. I see the land not simply as “great scenery” but also as a sacred presence, and am constantly reminded of my connection with nature and the need to respond to it and care for it. The images and symbols in my work reflect my response to the sacredness of the inland. Using sensual colour, and lush textures, I attempt to peel back layers and reveal deeper elements of the land, breaking them down into primordial motifs and symbols, and creating a visceral presence.