This portrait was created in collaboration with Uncle Nigel, a proud Karrinyara elder, in the Tanami Desert, where the land holds memory of fire. Guided by Uncle Nigel, I walked through scorched country and regenerating flora, listening as he spoke of the rhythms of wind, smoke, ants, and returning life. His words, ‘Fire is a regenerator of life; without fire, we wouldn’t survive’, ground the work in his knowledge and lived experience. My role was to witness, respond, and frame the moment, honouring the depth of cultural knowledge held in land, fire, and language.