This painting is understood to be one of three of a similar subject and large-scale, completed by the artist early in her career in 2005-06. All the Fish and All the Fish in the Sea are now both in public collections; the former acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria in 2013 and the latter entered the collection of the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2012.

“These works conjure a large school of fish erupting from the bountiful reef-laden waters around Bentinck Island to feed on smaller fish or other marine creatures at the surface. As each fish breaks the water’s surface, a wave radiates from the disruption and, for a few seconds, a circle, or hundreds of them, remain as the memory of the interaction between beings and place. These paintings allude to schools of mullet, queen fish, mackerel or tuna, but never figuratively depict them.”

Reference: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda - Sally Gabori - Dulka Warngiid - Land of All, exhibition catalogue Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art 21 May – 29 August 2016, & touring National Gallery of Victoria 23 Sep 2016 – 29 Jan 2017