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A journey through soaks and Country

The Language of Soaks

Bright, colorful panels with dot patterns are illuminated in a desert night setting, with stars visible in the sky and vivid lighting effects.
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Corban Clause Williams is one of the most prominent emerging artists of the younger generation at Martumili Artists.

Born in Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, he grew up surrounded by family, story and Country.

For Parrtjima 2026 Corban’s installation drew from the painting Kaalpa (Kalypa, Canning Stock Route Well 23), which explores the network of soaks and waterholes that form the lifeblood of desert Country. Translated into a large-scale immersive installation, the work reflected the vital role of these hidden water sources in sustaining people, animals and culture over millennia.

More than a visual experience, the installation became a living map of movement, song and survival and invited audiences to move through Country with care listen deeply to the stories held within water and land.

Abstract art installation with vibrant, curved panels in red and orange hues, illuminated by a bright light in the center.
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