Aboriginal Waterhole Dreaming Ceramic Coaster

Meet Khatija

For Khatija Possum, painting is in her blood. A descendant of the famous Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Khatija has paved her own way and made a name for herself in the art world. Born in 1989 in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, she has been deeply influenced by her grandfather, Clifford Possum, and her mother, Michelle Possum Nungurrayi’s artwork. When Khatija was nine, her mother began to paint again and it was at this time that Khatija fell in love with her mother’s work and indeed painting. Through observing and assisting her mother Khatija learnt to paint. It is this process that highlights the importance of art in keeping culture alive as stories and skills are passed from one generation to the next.

As a mother herself, the importance of keeping her cultural heritage strong is of great consequence. Khatija currently lives with her partner John and three children in Adelaide.

Waterhole Dreaming  – Khatija Possum

In this Dreaming story from Pupunya, NT, the Rainbow Serpent is the mighty creator who carved the land, shaping valleys, rivers, and of course, the sacred waterholes!
As she slithered through the red earth, her body left behind the winding paths of rivers and the pools of water that sustain life.

The waterhole is her resting place, a sacred mirror reflecting her rainbow colors when the sun hits just right. She’s both protector and giver, bringing water and life but also warning that the land must be respected. The Mimi spirits dance around her, sometimes stirring trouble, reminding all who come near to honor the balance between creation and chaos, but to always to respect the water holes and to never trouble them.

So, the Rainbow Serpent is the cosmic painter sketching with constellations and water, weaving the land’s story into the stars above and the water below. It’s like floating in space, where every ripple and color tells a story of life’s endless flow leaving behind it’s natural beauty of bright colours into the water holes.

Though primarily a landscape painting Khatija has surpassed the basic stories and landmarks and has expanded this art of body painting and ceremonial themes into a classic contemporary composition, using modern acrylic paints.

For Khatija Possum, painting is in her blood. A descendant of the famous Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Khatija has paved her own way and made a name for herself in the art world. Born in 1989 in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, she has been deeply influenced by her grandfather, Clifford Possum, and her mother, Michelle Possum Nungurrayi artwork. When Khatija was nine, her mother began to paint again and it was at this time that Khatija fell in love with her mother’s work and indeed painting. Through observing and assisting her mother Khatija learnt to paint. It is this process that highlights the importance of art in keeping culture alive as stories and skills are passed from one generation to the next.

As a mother herself, the importance of keeping her cultural heritage strong is of great consequence. Khatija currently lives with her partner John and three children in Adelaide.