From Red Earth to Saltwater

Pottery is primal creativity. As people were making marks and scratching stories on cave walls they were making clay objects to eat and drink from and tell stories. Lindsay Parkhill is invoking this tradition in his clay creations, but with a contemporary twist.

Lindsay’s work in ceramics is grounded in decades of living and working in some of Australia’s most remote and culturally rich landscapes. Arriving in the Top End in 1988 he spent formative years in Western Arnhemland where he was adopted by arrarrkpi, the people of Warruwi Goulburn Island from whom he learnt the rhythms of saltwater life.

His path then led him to the desert, living at Willowra – homeland of the Warlpiri people – and then in Ngukurr on the Roper River.

Following theological study in Melbourne he returned to the Top End and lived at Jabiru for sixteen years with his wife Louise, a linguist. Together they followed a ministry throughout Western Arnhemland, moving between communities, homelands and across country.

Now living on Larrakia land at Garramilla (Darwin) Lindsay has returned to the construction of clay objects that are useful and tell stories. His pottery is informed by his life experiences and the beauty of the land of Oz.