Paruku Project, Mulan 2011

The Paruku project, organised and orchestrated by NSW artist Mandy Martin, and involving scientists, anthropologists, writers, artists, pilots, benefactors and fabulous camp cooks took place in August near Lake Gregory in the Great Sandy Desert of WA. Basil was lucky enough to attend for four days’ camping with the group and was able to meet the Mulan artists operating out of Waruyanta Arts Centre. He and they have collaborated on a number of new silkscreen prints for the Project, and a large 5 part collaborative print will also be made using contributions from the whole group – black and white. The artists and traditional elders were extremely accommodating and the campsite was spectacular. Here, painter and architect David Leece is seen contemplating his subject (the shoreline of Lake Gregory – or Paruku – ) from the comfort of an esky. (The outdoor toilets were larger and more discrete!)