Kimberley, The Art, The Rock

Landing on the dirt airstrip belonging to 760,000 acres of Kimberley cattle station, we climb on board my friend's 4WD. Swaying across river rocks and down red dusty tracks, through kangaroo high grasses, past bright red Kimberley Roses and brilliantly happy yellow Kapok flowers, we wind our way under the brightest blue sky to visit revered, shaded, secretly living persons.

Enormously privileged to be here, before approaching 'public' rock-art sites, like now - meaning a place that has been accepted by Cultural Custodians to visit, with care - our authoritative friend calls out to the Spirits to state clearly our reason and intentions in being here. We promise we bring no harm, nor will leave a trace on this pristine land.

Silently - for the moment - the Guardians look out at us. In the stillness of being watched, we gently move forward to pay our respects. We gaze in awe at the Wandjina and Gyorn Gyorn figures embedded in the rock so deeply that a silicone layer protects their pigment. If indeed this is pigment at all.