Shaun has painted a dynamic landscape scene of Injalak, Nimbabeer and Argulluk, the three main hills in Gunbalanya. Shaun’s expressive style depicts plants, animals and creation ancestors with bold lines bursting forth and overlapping in front of the hills and billabong. They simultaneously exist within the landscape and exceed the boundaries of the picture plane. Symbols of life and regeneration are juxtaposed with powerful forces and images from the deep past. Mimih spirits and Yam people dance in the sky amidst a glowing orange sun. Ngalyod, the rainbow serpent glides across the billabong reaching up to the sky. A Thylacine, extinct in this region for at least 2000 years, looks out over the scene next to animals still thriving today, echidna, kangaroo, frilled neck lizard and bountiful fish.

Shaun is a rock art guide and goes out on country looking at numerous rock art galleries for inspiration before beginning his new compositions, carefully considering and incorporating the different colours, textures and styles. Shaun created this painting in dedication to his mentors, Djawida Nadjongorle and Bardayal Wamud Nadjamerrek. Shaun says: “It’s a story for old Wamud and old Djawida. I asked Wamud “Why do you paint from the rocks?” He replied “it’s a story for you mob, when you grow up, for your generation and for your children. When you grow up you can paint these stories”. So now, I follow in his footsteps, rock art style, with different rarrk. I used to ask old Djawida, lots of questions, “why are you doing that? He taught me how to paint, and Wamud. He sat down their doing dollobo (Bark paintings) or big durra (paper), he would tell us the stories. We would go out hunting with him, finding delek (white clay) and ochres to paint with.”