Originally from Yuendumu in the Central Desert, Patricia Oldfield recounts the Dreaming (Jukurrpa) of the Serpent (Warna) linked to the sacred site of Ngama, situated to the south of her community.  Dreamings are stories passed down orally from generation to generation.

The dotted lines that divide the canvas in two represent the tracks left by the snake, as seen from the air. The concentric circles at the bottom of the canvas symbolise the sacred sites evoked in the dream, which are usually watering holes. 

Like many Central Desert artists, Patricia Oldfield uses dot painting, or pointillism, inspired by the floor paintings traditionally produced for ritual ceremonies. Thanks to her technical mastery, the artist infuses her canvas with vibratory movement, magnifying the presence of the ancestral forces that inhabit it.