Pantjiti Mary McLean
c1930 - untitled 2001- pencil
The paintings of Pantjiti Mary Mclean show life as she recalls it from her days as a child in her family country. From the Docker Riverregion across to Blackstone and then extending into Warburton region. Her Grandmothers country is Kaltulutjara,Docker River region, her fathers country further west at Papalankuta, the Blackstone Ranges.
She was a young woman with a small child before she had any continuous contact with white fellas.
Whilst Mary is painting she sings and tells stories over and over recalling memories of events and people. She has a phenomenal knowledge of her Tjukurrpa, her dreaming and all the songs associated with it.
To understand her paintings the viewerneeds to slowly observe the panorama of interaction between individuals, their gestures and stance. People and animals freely interact in sometimes huge dramas sometimes everyday events, drinking at the same water hole for instance.
Written by Nalda Searles from Mary's discussions.
October 2001