Description
‘Red Ochre Country’
Kate Carrillo
oil on poly
91 x 76cm
The magnificent colours of the Flinders Ranges left me awestruck on returning for the first time in 50 years. Vibrant reds, oranges and yellows shift into deep purples and rich pinks across one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Rich ochres are punctuated by native pines and river red gums within the gorges, creating a landscape that feels both alive and ancient. At every turn, the iron-rich palette saturates the earth with pigments that have carried spiritual significance for Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. I found the vibrant geology deeply stimulating, providing a sense of renewal, reconnection and peace. Returning as an ex South Australian, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia and homecoming to a landscape connected to some of my earliest childhood memories, yet also to a place far older than myself.
