Artist statement

This painting depicts the bush seeds that come from the Ininti (batwinged coral) tree. The tree is native to the Western Desert of Central Australia, growing in sand around creek beds. The ininti grow abundantly in Muruntji country, west of Kungkayunti (Browns Bore), the outstation where Patricia Multa Napurrula’s family is from and where she has spent much time collecting the seeds. Both Patricia, and her daughter Virgillia Multa paint the ininti at Muruntji, expressing the colours and movement of the tree and its seeds and flowers throughout the seasons. Patricia remembers collecting the seeds when she was a child and making them into necklaces. The seeds grow in varying colours from dark reds to light yellows. The flowers are equally vibrant, ranging from rich oranges into reds. Ininti are still collected today and made into jewellery at Ikuntji Artists.