Zaachariaha Fielding Inma

This painting by first-time Wynne Prize finalist Zaachariaha Fielding depicts the sounds of Mimili, a small community in the eastern part of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Fielding says, ‘This is a memory that I was able to document which happened in Paralpi. It’s a place that’s like the Sydney Opera House for the APY Lands! It’s where people come to embrace and celebrate children, teaching them how to move and mimic their clan emblem, and, for Mimili, this has always been the maku (witchetty grub).’

Fielding presents Mimili through a childhood lens, recalling observations of inma (song and dance) and movement. Fielding says, ‘The atmosphere of this work is full of sound, movement and teaching. All of the communities [are] coming together, shar[ing] their storylines. However, this platform is only for children. This is for the babies and it’s about them being taught by the masters, their Elders.’

Fielding literally weaves Pitjantjatjara language into this work, using the teaching between grandchildren and grandparents as a stylistic element to outline and define the artist’s view of Country.