WAC443/24 – Marietta Bray

– 60 x 120 cm

Joomooloony (Boab Tree) is a powerful and evocative artwork that pays homage to the iconic Boab tree, a symbol of life, strength, and resilience in the Kimberley region. Painted using traditional ochre pigments gathered from Country, the work reflects both the physical presence and the deeper cultural significance of the Joomooloony within Gija culture.

The Boab tree stands tall and timeless, its wide, ancient trunk marked with the passage of generations, while its twisted branches stretch skyward like arms connecting earth to spirit. Through careful layering of ochres, Marietta captures the textures of the tree’s bark, the sunburnt earth surrounding and the shadows cast at dawn and dusk.

More than a botanical subject, the Joomooloony carries stories of survival, knowledge, and connection to place. For Gija people, it is a marker of Country and an embodiment of ancestral memory. It stands as witness to histories, holding both sorrow and strength, from Dreaming stories to contemporary struggles.

This artwork invites the viewer to pause and reflect on the Boab’s enduring presence in the landscape, symbolizing the deep ties between people, land, and culture. Through the ochre pigments, sourced from the same earth that nourishes the Boab, the painting becomes a bridge between the past and the present, honoring the artist’s connection to heritage and home.