WARLUKURLANGU The Art of Yuendumu E-Catalogue March 2025 by info@artitja.com.au

8th – 30th March 2025

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians, the Nyoongar people of the Wadjuk nation on whose land we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders, past and present.

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Artitja Fine Art Gallery is delighted to be bringing to you WARLUKULANGU | The Art of Yuendumu, - an exhibition of paintings from artists in the remote communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in the Northern Territory. Many of the artists have familial and ancestral connections to Western Australia, with their country crossing the borders.

Artitja has had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with the Warlukurlangu Artists art centre. Director Anna Kanaris has made numerous visits to the community over the past twenty years, and is honoured to have met some of the early painters, now sadly passed, such as ShortyJangala Robertson; Paddy Japaljarri Stewart and Judy Napangardi Watson (see photos below Anna’s visit to the art centre 2005.

The boldness of the artists palette has always been consistent, with purples, bright blues, shades of pink and yellow being used by all artists, men and women. Only their style and story might differ, although next generation artists such as sisters Julie and Sabrina Nangala Robertson continue in the style and palette of their Mother, esteemed and internationally acknowledged painter Dorothy Napangardi Robertson (dec).

The road to Yuendumu is now sealed, and it is an easy drive through the country to reach the art centre which welcomes visitors from around the world.

Significant to this exhibition is that all the artists are women, and it’s not accidental that the exhibition opens on Saturday 8th March, International Women’s Day.

We celebrate and acknowledge the depth of skill and knowledge that all the artists in the exhibition bring to their paintings, and in the important stories they have to tell.

Please enjoy this exhibition of paintings included in WARLUKURLANGU | The Art of Yuendumu.

Anna Kanaris – Director, Artitja Fine Art Gallery

WARLUKURLANGU ARTS – a short history

Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation located at Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, 300km north west of Alice Springs was established in 1985 and is one of the oldest and most successful Aboriginal-owned art centres in Central Australia. Located in a remote desert community, the centre is renowned for its vibrant acrylic paintings .

The inception of Warlukurlangu Artists can be traced back to significant cultural projects in the early 1980s when senior Warlpiri men, including Paddy Japaljarri Stewart and Paddy Japaljarri Sims and other senior leaders; men and women, worked towards founding the Warlukurlangu art centre which opened several years later.

From the outset maintenance of culture was the predominant driving motivation of the leaders most of whom were also leaders of the men’s and women’s ceremonies, at the time when there was still a very active ceremonial life in Yuendumu. The art centre has been the primary cultural organisation in Yuendumu for 26 years. From its inception, Warlukurlangu’s art became recognized for its bold use of colour through an unrestricted palette and this was integral to the distinctive style that emerged.

Map source: McCulloch’s Contemporary Aboriginal Art

Another early distinctive feature was the use of very traditional iconography. The artists painted Jukurrpa (dreaming story), ensuring appropriate Warlpiri relationships of kirda (owners) and kurdugurlu (guardians) were followed and the images reflected the social and cultural obligations present in ceremonies and day -to-day life in the community. The kurawarri, the iconographic elements of a painting that held the story, were painted first and scrutinized by others for their adherence to Jukurrpa. The dotting that filled the canvases was less important, and many artists developed varying styles of application and experimented with different colours while maintaining a consistency in their presentation of kuruwarri

Nowadays, the paintings tell the story of the artists connection to their country, the features of the landscape, the plants and animals that are found there and the creation myth that occurred in the Dreamtime. These stories are still very relevant in the lives of the artists today. Artists have their own particular styles or palettes, and constantly experiment and vary their paintings, so the works are constantly evolving.

Warlukurlangu Artists continues to grow, develop and expand and stands as a testament to the power of art in cultural preservation and community development. Through its vibrant artworks and community programs, the center continues to celebrate and sustain the rich cultural heritage of the Warlpiri people.

Julie Nangala Robertson painting at the art centre. Image Anna Kanaris

Athena Nangala Granites

“I learnt to paint by watching my mother, my sisters and my grandmother paint.”

Athena Nangala Granites was born in 1994 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. She has lived most of her life in Yuendumu, attending the local school and graduating from Senior Girls Upper School in 2009. Since leaving school she has gained work experience working in the office at Mt Theo, a program that provides comprehensive training in youth development and leadership. She has also married Sebastian Jupurrurla Wilson and they have one son, “little Henry Peterson Wilson”. Athena enjoys being Mum to little Henry. Although young, Athena comes from a long line of artists.

Athena is the daughter of Geraldine Napangardi Granites and the granddaughter of Alma Nungarrayi Granites (dec), well-known artists who paint with Warlukurlangu Artists. She is also the great grand-daughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec) one of the founding artists of Warlukurlangu Artists.

Athena has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2010. She paints Jukurrpa from her father’s side (Ngapa Jukurrpa – Water Dreaming) and her mother’s side (Ngalyipi Jukurrpa – Snake Vine Dreaming and Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa – Seven Sisters Dreaming), stories which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Athena uses an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.

When Athena is not painting and when the rain comes and it is cooler she likes to go hunting with her family for Honey Ants, Bush Banana, Goanna and Kangaroo

. NAPALJARRI – WARNU JUKURRPA – SEVEN

SISTERS DREAMING

Athena Nangala Granites

Napaljarri warnu Jukurrpa 240x107cm (Seven Sisters Dreaming) ART446024ANG

NAPALJARRI – WARNU JUKURRPA – SEVEN SISTERS DREAMING

The Seven Sisters Dreaming depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this dreaming carrying the Jampijinpa (man) ‘wardilyka’(the bush turkey, who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnu (women) and who represents the Orion’s Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra, the women turn themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. The custodians of this dreaming are closely association with men’s sacred ceremonies of a very secretive nature.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa associated sites and other elements. Often depicted in paintings for this Jukurrpa is the female star Yantarlarangi (Venus – the evening star) who chases the seven Napaljarri sisters for having stolen the night from her.

Athena Nangala Granites Napaljarri warnu Jukurrpa 122x122cm (Seven Sisters Dreaming) ART4584ANG

Athena Nangala Granites Napaljarri warnu Jukurrpa 122x122cm (Seven Sisters Dreaming) ART440324ANG

Athena Nangala Granites Napaljarri warnu Jukurrpa 122122cm (Seven Sisters Dreaming) ART447124ANG

Reanne Nampijinpa Brown

Reanne Nampijinpa Brown was born in 1989 in the Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She has lived in Yuendumu all her life, attending the local school. Reanne is married and has one little boy Jacob. She first painted for Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre in Yuendumu, in 2002, when she was thirteen.

Warlukurlangu Artists provides an outlet for Warlpiri artists to paint their cultural heritage and earn income from their work. Reanne paints Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) and Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) that she has inherited from her father and grandfather’s side. These Dreamings relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Her first endeavour into print making at Warlukurlangu was in 2006 where she produced her first etching. As a young artist, Reanne enjoys painting for the arts centre and has a promising career ahead.

PAMAPARDU JUKURRPA (Flying Ant Dreaming) - WARNTUNGURRU

Reanne Nampijinpa Brown’s painting depicts the Pamapardu Jukurrpa ( Flying Ant Dreaming) from Warntungurru, west of Yuendumu 'Pamapardu' is the Warlpiri name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found throughout Warlpiri country. This country belongs to Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. 'Pamapardu' are flying ants. They build earth mounds (‘mingkirri’) that are common in the Tanami area. When heavy rains come in summer the ‘mingkirri’ get flooded out, so the ‘pamapardu’ grow wings and fly off to make new homes, following their queens to dry mounds or to build a new. When they have found their new home they drop their wings. In this stage they can be collected, lightly cooked in coals and eaten. As they fall to the ground women collect them to eat because they are nice and sweet.

Reanne Nampijinpa Brown 152x122cm Parnapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) – Warntungurru (left – painting detail)

Antonia Napangardi Michaels was born 1998 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Nyirripi, a remote aboriginal community located approximately 420 km northwest of Alice Springs and approx. 130 km north-west of Yuendumu, in the Northern Territory of Australia. She is the daughter of Andrea Nungarrayi Wilson and Chris Japanangka Michaels and granddaughter of Alice Nampijinpa Henworth, all major Warlpiri artists.

Antonia went to St Mary’s School in Broome, graduating in 2012. When she finished school, she came back to Nyirripi and worked at the Learning Centre run by the Batchelor Institute, an Indigenous Tertiary Education Program, where Antonia assisted students with computer skills.

Antonia began painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in2010 when she was 12 yrs old and again in 2014 when she was 16 yrs. Antonia continues the family tradition of artists painting her Grandmother’s Lappi Lappi Jukurrpa(Lappi Lappi Dreaming) and her father’s Janganpa Jukurrpa (Bush-tailed Possum Dreaming), stories which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. These stories were passed down to her by her Parents and their parents before them for millennia. She learnt to paint first at school and then by watching all the family paint.

She uses an unrestricted palette to depict her traditional iconography, at the same time developing a modern individualist style, using pattern in a variety of contexts. Antonia is married to Maxie Jampijinpa Pollard and has one son born in 2017. When she is not painting, or working she loves to go hunting for bush tucker with family and friends.

Antonia Napangardi Michaels

Antonia Napangardi Michaels 122x107cm Lappi Lappi Dreaming ART346024ANM

Lappi Lappi Dreaming

Lappi Lappi, a rock hole near Lake Hazlett, about 90 km northwest of Lake Mackay in Western Australia. The country belongs to Nampijinpa/ Jampijinpa and Nangala/Jangala skin groups. Located in a sheltered basin, the rock hole at Lappi Lappi is a permanent source of water, and is surrounded by country rich in bush tucker. In the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime) many mothers with young children would gather there because it was a safe place to stay. The rock hole at Lappi Lappi is home to a ‘warnayarra’, a rainbow serpent that travels underground between various rock holes. One day, women were gathered at the rock hole with their children, singing and dancing. When the ‘warnayarra’ heard the sound of voices, it travelled silently towards them, under the water. When it reached the edge of the rock hole, it rose out of the water and ate them all.

Antonia Napangardi Michaels 152x61cm Lappi Lappi Dreaming ART354824ANM

Debbie Napaljarri Brown

Debbie Napaljarri Brown was born in Nyirripi, a remote Aboriginal community 400 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. She grew up in Nyirrpi, and did most of her schooling there, although she spent several years boarding at Yirrara College in Alice Springs. When she returned to Nyirripi she worked at the store as well as helping to care for old people.

In 2010 Debbie moved to Yuendumu, 160 km east of Nyirripi, with her husband and son Jarvis to be closer to her husband’s family. She works for the Women’s Centre, cooking lunches for the kids at school. Debbie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2006.

Her Grandmother, Margaret Napangardi Brown, also an artist with the art centre, taught her to paint. Her Grandfather is the renowned Pintupi artist Pegleg Tjampitjinpa who was born c.1920 and grew up in the vicinity of Wilkinkarra, living a traditional life. Debbie would watch her grandmother and grandfather paint and listen to her Grandmother’s Jukurrpa or Dreaming stories. In her paintings, Debbie paints her father’s Jukurrpa, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features, plants and animals. These stories were passed down to her by her Grandmother and her mother and their parents before them for millennia.

Debbie Napaljarri Brown 122x76cm Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming) ART94224ny

Left: Debbie Napaljarri Brown 46x46cm Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming) ART93224ny

Right: Debbie Napaljarri Brown 46x46cm Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming) ART91224ny

Debbie Napaljarri Brown 107x76cm Wanakiji

Juikurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming

ART58324ny

Below: 61x61cm ART55624ny

Wanaki Jurpa – Bush Tomato Dreaming

The Wanakiji Jukurrpa (bush tomato [Solanum chippendalei] Dreaming) travels through Yaturlu (near Mount Theo, north of Yuendumu). “Wanakiji” grows in open spinifex country and is a small, prickly plant with purple flowers that bears green fleshy fruit with many small black seeds. After collecting the fruit the seeds are removed with a small wooden spoon called ‘kajalarra’. The fruit then can be eaten raw or threaded onto skewers called ‘turlturrpa’ and then cooked over a fire. ‘Wanakiji’ can also be skewered and left to dry. When they are prepared in this way it is called ‘turlturrpa’ and the fruit can be kept for a long time. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. The Wanakiji Jukurrpa belongs to Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men.

Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert

Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert was born in 1977 in Alice Springs. She attended Yirara College, an Aboriginal boarding college in Alice Springs. As a child she lived in Areyonga, west of Alice Springs with her mother. Her parents were separated when she was very young. After leaving school Priscilla worked for some time at Uluru. She met Lewis Moneymoon at Uluru and married him shortly after in Alice Springs. They live in Nyirripi and have one daughter born in 2007.

Priscilla has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2010. Her country is Tanami Downs, until recently Mongrel Downs Station, located about 700 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. It was on Mongrel Downs that her Grandparents died and it is her father’s country and her father’s brother’s, “Uncle Ronnie Lawson’s”, country. Ronnie Lawson was the main spokesperson for the claimant group claiming traditional aboriginal ownership of Tanami Downs.

NAPALJARRI – WARNU JUKURRPA – SEVEN SISTERS DREAMING

Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert 91x91cm Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa

(Seven Sisters Dreaming) ART83624ny

Nathania Nangala Granites

Nathania Nangala Granites was born in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She was born into a family of artists. Her mother is Valda Napangardi Granites and her grandmother is Alma Nungarrayi Granites (Dec), an established artist who has exhibited in Australia and overseas.

Nathania grew up listening to her mother’s and her father’s Jukurrpa stories and watching her family paint. She went to the local school in Yuendumu. When she finished school, she assisted Yasmin Napurrular Musharbash, taking photos for Yasmin’s study of everyday life in an Aboriginal camp. Nathania is married and has a little boy born in 2011.

Nathania has been painting with Warlukurlangu since 2011. She paints her father’s Jukurrpa, particularly Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) and Warlukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Country Dreaming). She also paints her grandmother’s Yanjirlpirri or Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Star or Seven Sisters Dreaming). These stories have been passed down over the generations for millennia and relate directly to the land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Nathania uses an unrestricted palette to depict a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.

Jukurrpa (Fire Country Dreaming)

Wayililinypa (where the ﬁre killed the two Jangala sons) and Marnimarnu (a water soakage) where the two Jangalas camped. Warlukurlangu

This Dreaming belongs to Warlukurlangu country to the south-west of Yuendumu, for which Jampijinpa/Jangala men and Nampijinpa/Nangala women have custodial responsibility. An old man ‘lungkarda’ (centralian blue- tongued lizard [Tiliqua multifasciata]), of the Jampijinpa skin group, lived on a hill with his two Jangala sons. The old man would feign blindness and send the two boys hunting in search of meat. While they were gone he would hunt and eat anything that he caught before they returned. One day the sons returned with a kangaroo that they had caught after much tracking. Unfortunately the kangaroo was sacred to the ‘lungkarda’, unbeknown to the boys. In his anger the old man decided to punish his sons and the next time they went out, he put his fire stick to the ground and sent a huge bush fire after them which chased them for many miles, at times propelling them through the air. Although the boys beat out the flames, ‘lungkarda's’ special magic kept the fire alive and it re-appeared out of his blue-tongued lizard hole. Exhausted the boys were finally overcome by the flames. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Usually sites that are depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa include Warlukurlangu (a men's cave), Kirrkirrmanu (where the sacred kangaroo was killed),

152x152cm ART340824NNG (below

Nathania Nangala Granites, Warlukurlangu Jukurrpa (Fire Country Dreaming)

Helen Nungarrayi Reed

Helen Nungarrayi Reed was born in 1971 in Haasts Bluff, a community located 227 km west of Alice Springs in NT of Australia. She grew up in Kintore, a small Aboriginal community with a population of about 400, located 550 km west of Alice Springs, near the NT/WA border, where her father and sister still live. Her mother passed away when she was very young. She now lives in Nyirripi, originally an outstation of Yuendumu but now a small community, 440 km west from Alice Springs in Northern Territory. She lives with her husband Geoffrey Gallagher.

Helen has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2014. She paints her father’s Ninkuwakal country. She likes painting because it reminds her of her father and the colours remind her of her country.

This painting refers to a jukurrpa (dreaming) related to water. This story is associated to a rockhole site, Lupul south of Kintore. The Jukurrpa tells the story of the rainbow serpent travelling through the country creating large storms with the storms the land flourish creating the flora and fauna.

The dreaming associated to Lupul rockhole also is connected to the two women Junkurrpa. This dreaming tells the story of two women travelling through the country and performing ceremonies during the ceremonies they use hair string skirts.

Lupul Jukurrpa Helen Reed

Helen Nnungarrayi Reed 107x76cm Lupul Jukurra Helen Reed ART47324ny

Tasha Nampijinpa Collins was born in 1988 at Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia.

Tasha is the granddaughter of Ruby Nakamarra Collins and daughter of Vanessa Nungurrayi Collins and Christopher Jangala Gallagher. She grew up in Yuendumu and attended the local School, graduating at the age of 17 yrs. She is married and has one girl, little Napanganka, born in 2014.

Tasha began painting with Warlukurlangu Artists In 2004 when she attended workshops at the Art Centre during the school holidays but once she finished school she painted on a regular basis, developing a modern individualistic style that incorporates traditional iconography and bright colours to depict her Jukurrpa. She paints her father’s Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), stories that relate directly to the land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Stories that have been passed down by her parents and their parents before them for millennia.

Tasha Nampijinpa Collins

P30: Tasha Nampijinpa Collins 91x61cm Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) – Puyurra, this page left 46x46cm ART808723TNC, right 46x46cm 808623TNNNC

Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaminng ) - Puyurru

The site depicted in this painting is Puyurru, west of Yuendumu. In the usually dry creek beds are ‘mulju’ (soakages), or naturally occurring wells. The 'kirda' (owners) for this site are Nangala/Nampijinpa women and Jangala/Jampijinpa men. Two Jangala men, rainmakers, sang the rain, unleashing a giant storm. The storm travelled across the country from the east to the west, initially travelling with a ‘pamapardu Jukurrpa’ (termite Dreaming) from Warntungurru to Warlura, a waterhole 8 miles east of Yuendumu. At Warlura, a gecko called Yumariyumari blew the storm on to Lapurrukurra and Wilpiri. Bolts of lightning shot out at Wirnpa (also called Mardinymardinypa) and at Kanaralji. At this point the Dreaming track also includes the ‘kurdukurdu mangkurdu Jukurrpa’ (children of the clouds Dreaming). The water Dreaming built hills at Ngamangama using baby clouds and also stuck long pointy clouds into the ground at Jukajuka, where they can still be seen today as rock formations.

The termite Dreaming eventually continued west to Nyirripi, a community approximately 160 km west of Yuendumu. The water Dreaming then travelled from the south over Mikanji, a watercourse with soakages northwest of Yuendumu. At Mikanji, the storm was picked up by a ‘kirrkarlanji’ (brown falcon [Falco berigora]) and taken farther north. At Puyurru, the falcon dug up a giant ‘warnayarra’ (rainbow serpent). The serpent carried water with it to create another large lake, Jillyiumpa, close to an outstation in this country. The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this story are Jangala men and Nangala women. After stopping at Puyurru, the water Dreaming travelled on through other locations including Yalyarilalku, Mikilyparnta, Katalpi, Lungkardajarra, Jirawarnpa, Kamira, Yurrunjuku, and Jikaya before moving on into Gurindji country to the north.

“I watched my mother paint and my grandmother paint. They told me all about the dreaming.”

Portia

Napanangka Michaels

Portia Napanangka Michaels was born in 1967 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. She was born into a family of artists. She is the daughter of Mary Anne Nampijinpa Michaels, a well-known Warlukurlangu artist. Portia has two sisters and two brothers and lives in Nyirripi, an Aboriginal community 150 km west of Yuendumu. She attended Yuendumu local school before going to Yirara College, an Aboriginal boarding school in Alice Springs. When she finished school she returned to Nyirripi where she has been working for the Age care.

Portia has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2007. The art cenre provides an outlet for Warlpiri artists to paint their cultural heritage and earn income from their work. This service is extended to Nyirripi artists, on a weekly basis, by delivering canvas and paint to artists and picking up finished artwork in Nyirripi.

“I watched my mother paint and my grandmother paint. They told me all about the dreaming.”

Portia paints Lappi Lappi Jukurrpa (Lappi Lappi Dreaming) from her mother’s side and Janganpa Jukurrpa (Brush-tailed possum Dreaming) from her father’s side. These stories have been passed down to her by her father and mother and their parents before them for millennia. When Portia is not painting she likes to go hunting for goanna.

Portia Napanangka Michaels 76x76cm Lappi Lappi Jukurrpa ART82624ny

This painting is of Lappi Lappi a rock hole near Lake Hazlett about 90km northwest of Lake Mackay in Western Australia. Located in a sheltered basin, the rockhole is a permanent source of water and is surrounded by country rich in bush tucker. In the time of the Dreaming many mothers with young children would gather there because it was a safe place to stay. The rock hole at Lappi Lappi is home to a ‘warnayarra’ a rainbow serpent that travels underground between various rock holes. One day women were gathered at the rock with their children, singing and dancing when the ‘warnayarra’ heard the sound of voices, it travelled silently towards them, under the water. When it reached the edge of the rock hole, it rose out of the water and ate them all.

Saraeva Napangardi Marshall

Saraeva Napaljarri Marshall was born on the 24 December, 1996 to Julie Nangala Robertson (a Warlukurlangu Artist) and Nigel Japanangka Marshall. She is the grand-daughter of the well-known Telstra Award winning artist, Dorothy Napangardi (Dec 2013). Saraeva has spent her whole life in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.

. Although Saraeva has been painting from an early age with her mother and grandmother, she has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2013. She paints her Grandmother’s Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina Dreaming). Her grandmother would paint and tell her about the important women’s dreaming site, about the ancestral women travelling and dancing and performing ceremonies and creating the country as they travelled. These stories have been passed down through the generations for millennia.

To depict her traditional Jukurrpa, Saraeva uses a wide range of colours and traditional iconography while developing a contemporary style. When Saraeva is not studying or painting she likes to go hunting with her family for goanna and bush tucker

Saraeva Napangardi Marshall

Nguru Yurnturnu-wana (Country Around Yuendumu

Nguru Yurnturnu-wana - Country Around Yuendumu

This painting depicts the natural landscape around Yuendumu. The bush around Yuendumu features plenty of ‘watiya’ (trees), ‘marna’ (grass), ‘kuyu’ (animals) to hunt, and ‘miyi’ (edible plants) to gather.

There are a number of beautiful natural features close to Yuendumu, including rocky hills, creeks, soakages, and waterholes. There are also a number of small outstations around Yuendumu. These include Yuwali (Bean Tree), Wakurlpa, Purturlu (Mt. Theo), Jirla (Chilla Well), Yarripirlangu, Wayililinpa, and many more.

There are many sites around Yuendumu that are associated with different ‘Jukurrpa’ (Dreamings). These sites include a major ‘yunkaranyi Jukurrpa’ (honey ant Dreaming), which travels from the west to the east. Yuendumu is sometimes also called ‘yurrampi’ (honey ant) for this reason.

A very big ‘ngapa Jukurrpa’ (water Dreaming) travels past Yuendumu from the south far to the north. This Jukurrpa stops at Warlura, a waterhole 8 miles east of Yuendumu, and at Jukajuka, an important rock formation. ‘Warlukurlangu Jukurrpa’ (fire country Dreaming) lies to the west of Yuendumu, on the way to Nyirrpi. You can see the ‘warlu’ (fire) in the form of hundreds of red ‘mingkirri’ (termite mounds) that rise out of the ground in this area.

Other Jukurrpa around Yuendumu include a ‘janganpa Jukurrpa’ (brush-tailed possum [Tricosurus vulpecula] Dreaming) associated with the hills to the north, and a ‘yankirri Jukurrpa’ (emu [Dromaius novaehollandiae ] Dreaming) associated with Ngarlikirlangu, a rock formation to the north. A ‘warlawurru Jukurrpa’ (wedge-tailed eagle [ Aquila audax] Dreaming) is associated with the Wakurlpa outstation and hills. A very big ‘warna Jukurrpa’ (snake Dreaming) passes through Mijirlparnta (Mission Creek), west of Yuendumu. This Jukurrpa tells the story of a blind and crippled python, Yarripiri, who was carried by the ‘kurdungurlu’ (custodians) of the Jukurrpa from the south to the far north. This Jukurrpa is associated with the important Jardiwarnpa conflict resolution ceremony.

All the sites around Yuendumu are owned and cared for by different skin subsections and are associated with different Jukurrpa. Some people are ‘kirda’ (owners) of the Jukurrpa, and others are ‘kurdungurlu’ (custodians).

Patricia Nakamarra Oldfield

Patricia Nakamarra Olfield was born in 1982 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. She has lived in Yuendumu most of her life. She is the daughter of two Warlukurlangu painters. Patricia is married to Sebastian Jangala Roberston and both of them are very active and positive members of the art centre

Patricia finished Primary School at Yuendumu High School and then left to get married. Both she and her husband are actively involved with the Mt Theo Program, in particular the Jaru Pirrjirdi Youth Development, which incorporates the Yuendumu Youth Program.

Patricia has been painting with Warlukurlangu since 2001. She paints stories that are closely associated with her traditional country. Her main story is Warna Jukurrpa (Snake Dreaming), Dreamings that have been passed down to her from her father and his father’s father for millennia.

Patricia Nakamarra Oldfield

Karnta Juikurrpa (Women’s Dreaming) – Bush Medicine

Aboriginal medicine is widely practised in the Northern Territory today. It is a complex system closely linked to the culture and beliefs of the people, their understanding of the land and its flora and fauna. It is a holistic approach, intergrating the social, physical and spiritual aspects of health and life. The Warlpiri health system includes the ngangkayikirli or traditional healers; the Yawulyuceremonies, (Napangardi Women’s Jukurrpa); and the Herbal or Bush Medicine. Depicted in this painting are the bush medicine plants that grow on traditional homelands in the Northern Territory, plants that are collected by the women. The Warlpiri have extensive knowledge of plants, and the use of bush medicine is shared by the whole family and not to any particular group.

Over fifty different medicinal plants have been recorded, all containing biologically active compounds. They are mainly used symptomatically for coughs and colds, pains and aches, and digestive problems. Some are used as dressings for wounds and sores. Plants used on sores and wounds contain proteolytic enzymes that help healing. Below are just a few of the many medicinal plants that grow in the Northern Territory.

In preparing tonics, Bitter Bark (Alstonia constricta), is often used, which contains reserpine, a tranquilliser and antihypertensive. Gumbi Gumbi (pittosprum angustifolium), a small shrub with little star-shaped yellow flowers and yellow/orange skinned fruit, a versatile indigenous medicine, is used in a number of traditional medicinal applications, from the treatment of coughs and colds to eczema, and even used for lactagogue (milk let-down) activity.

Although both the fruit and the seeds have medicinal properties, it is the leaves (used as a tea, tonic, dried in capsules or in salves/creams), that yield the most effective treatments. The readily available native lemon grasses (Cymbopogon ambiguus A. Camus) is also used as a tea/tonic, and is effective for treating diarrhoea, and coughs, sore throats and colds. It can also be applied to the skin for treatment of rashes and sores, and a root poultice mixture can be applied to ears for earaches.

Ngalyipi(Snake Vine - Hibbertia scandens), is another effective anti-inflammatory and antiseptic bush medicine. The leaves and stems are warmed and mashed into a paste and used for pain of arthritis, for joints and other inflammation caused by injuries. Ngarlkirdi (Witchetty Grub), a good bush tucker is also a good bush medicine and when crushed and made into a paste is used externally for the treatment of burns and open wounds.

Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer was born in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She has grown up most of her life in Yuendumu. First attending the local school in Yuendumu then moving to Alice Springs where she attended Alice Springs High School. Further studies gave her qualifications to work in administrative work. Ruth has held a number of administrative positions since leaving school. For 13 years she worked with the Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) in Lajamanu before transferring to the Yuendumu Administration Office. She has also worked for Warlpiri Media, CDEP Council, and the Yuendumu Library and is presently working for the Shire Council.

Ruth has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since she was a teenager. Her grandfather and grandmother told her the stories of her Jukurrpa (Dreaming) but it was Daisy Napanangka Nelson (1930 –2001) who also painted with Warlukurlangu Artists, Ruth’s Number two Grandmother or Big Sister (Wendy and Alma Sims) who taught her Yanjirlpirri Jukurpa (Star Dreaming) painting. Ruth often travels and visits family in Lajamanu, Balgo, and Kalkaringi. Aside from painting, Ruth enjoys playing basketball and softball.

Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer

Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) – Yarripilangu 107x30cm ART335724RNS

Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) - Yarripilangu

This painting depicts a ‘wardapi Jukurrpa’ (sand monitor/goanna [Varanus gouldii] Dreaming). This dramatic Jukurrpa travels between Purturlu (Mount Theo), approximately 150kms north-northwest of Yuendumu, and Yarripilangu (Newhaven), which is approximately 100 kms southwest of Yuendumu. This painting focuses on the portion of the Jukurrpa that takes place at Yarripilangu, which is owned by Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men. The portion of the Jukurrpa at Purturlu belongs to Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men.

This Jukurrpa tells the story of a Japangardi man named Wamaru who lived at Jarrardajarrayi, an area of country near Purturlu. This Japangardi man lived at Jarrardajarrayi near a soakage called Juntangkalpa. He travelled south to Yarripilangu and approached a group of ‘karnta’ (women) that were sitting down in a circle there. He wanted to woo a Nungarrayi woman named Yurlkurinyi who was the wrong skin for him. By tribal law, this woman was his mother-in-law and their relationship would be taboo.

The Japangardi man wooed the Nungarrayi woman and they went up the hill at Yarripilangu where they made love. The earth there turned to ‘ngunjungunju’ (white ochre) and the man turned himself and all the ‘karnta’ (women) into ‘wardapi’ (goannas). The Japangardi man eventually brought the Nungarrayi woman back to Purturlu to live, even though they were the wrong skin for each other.

White ochre is still found on top of the hill at Yarripilangu and is used today for love magic and for ceremonial decoration. There’s also a cave where you can see the shape of a goanna entering. There are beautiful groundwater springs on the east side of the Yarripilangu hill. A number of important Jukurrpa associated with mens’ initiation ceremonies pass through Yarripilangu; these include ‘karnta Jukurrpa’ (womens’ Dreaming), ‘ngalyipi Jukurrpa’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina] Dreaming), ‘wati-jarra Jukurrpa’ (two men Dreaming), and ‘witi Jukurrpa’ (ceremonial pole Dreaming).

Peggy Napurrurla Granites was born in 1958 on Gordon Downs Station in Western Australia. She is the daughter of Peggy Napaljarri Rockman, a Warlpirispeaking Indigenous artist, and Jampu Jackamarra When she was young her parents were relocated to Lajamanu, an Aboriginal community in semi-arid country on the edge of the Tanami Desert, halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs and 557ks south west of Katherine. Peggy went to the local school before being sent to Kormilda College, an Aboriginal boarding college in Darwin. When she finished school, she returned to Lajamanu. “At that time I was just learning … it was exciting … travelling between the communities … learning about country … and about hunting.” In 1980 she moved to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs, where she still lives. She has five brothers and one sister, who “live everywhere!”

Peggy began painting with Warlukurlangu in 1998. She paints her father’s Pirlarla Jukurrpa (Dogwood Tree Bean Dreaming), stories that have been passed down to him from his father and his father’s father for millennia. She learnt to paint by watching her mother, who loved to paint. Peggy enjoys working with colour and uses an unrestricted palette to depict her traditional iconography, at the same time developing a modern individualist style, using pattern and design in a variety of contexts. When she is not painting, she is kept busy with her children and her “many grandchildren

Peggy Napurrurla Granites

Peggy Napurrurla Granites 91x61cm

Pirlarla Jukurrpa (Dogwood Tree Bean Dreaming) ART375822PNG

Pirlarla Jukurrpa (dogwood Tree Bean Dreaming)

This ‘pirlarla’ (dogwood tree bean) Dreaming begins near Yumurrpa (a waterhole approximately 140km northwest of Yuendumu) and travels west. It goes to the country near the Yiningnarra range, south of Rabbit Flat and several hundred kilometers northwest of Yuendumu. There, women of the Nakamarra and Napurrula subsections travelled and collected ‘pirlarla.’ The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this Jukurrpa are Jakamarra/ Jupurrurla men and Nakamarra/Napurrurla women.

‘Pirlarla’ are called ‘bush beans.’ They are the long seed pods of the ‘wakirlpirri’ (dogwood [Acacia coriacea] tree), which grows on the sides of creek beds and near ‘mulga’ trees. When it gets hot, women collect the ‘pirlarla’ and cook them on the fire. They then crack them open and eat the ‘ngurlu’ (seeds) inside. The seeds can be ground up and eaten. They can also be dried, ground up, and mixed with water in a ‘parraja’ (coolamon). Women squeeze a liquid called ‘ngungkarli’ or ‘yinjirrpi’ from them, which is sweet and good to drink.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites, and other elements. Paintings of the ‘Pirlarla Jukurrpa’ often include designs that are painted onto women' s bodies during their Yawulyu ceremonies. Long sinuous lines represent the ‘pirlarla’ (bush beans), while round circles represent the ‘wakirlpirri’ (dogwood trees) that they grow on. Shorter curved lines can represent small ‘pirlarla.

Stephanie Napurrurla Nelson

Stephanie Napurrurla Nelson was born in 1984 in of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory and grew up in Yuendumu. She attended the local school then studied at Yirrara College, an Aboriginal boarding college in Alice Springs.

Stephanie’s auntie is Bessie Nakamarra Sims (dec) who was one of the founding artists of Warlukurlangu Artists. Stephanie has painted at the art centre since 2000 under the guidance of Bessie, from whom she has been handed the Dreaming stories she paints. These stories have been passed down in this way over many generations.

Stephanie’s dreamings include Janganpa (possum), Yarla (bush potato), Karnta (women), Marlu (kangaroo), Pamabaru (flying ant). They come from Waputali, the country of which her family are custodians, and relate directly to this land, it’s features and animals. Stephanie is married and has a son who was born in 2003. She likes playing basketball and going hunting with her family.

Janganpa Jukurrpa (Brush-tail Possum Dreaming) -

Mawurrji

This jukurppa travels all over Warlpiri country. ‘Janganpa” are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of white gum trees (‘wapunungka’) This story comes from a big hill called Mawurrji, west of Yuendumu and north of Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs). A group of ‘janganpa’ ancestors resided there. Every night they would go out in search of food. Their hunting trips took them to Wiriki and Wanapirdi, where they found ‘parnapardu’ (flying ants). They journeyed on to Ngarikirdipini looking for water.

A Nampijinpa women was living at Mawurrji with her two daughters. She gave the daughters in marriage to a Jupurrurla ‘janganpa’ but later decided to run away with them. The Jupurrurla angrily pursued the woman. He tracked them to Mawurrji where he killed them with a stone axe. Their bodies are now rocks at this place. Warlpiri people perform a young men’s initiation ceremony which involves the Janganpa Jukurrpa

The Janganpa Jukurrpa belongs to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men and Nakamarra/Napurrurla women. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent this Jukurrpa. ‘Janganpa’ tracks are often represented as ‘E’shaped figures and concentric circles are used to depict the trees in which the ‘janganpa’ live, and also the sites at Mawurrji.

Stephanie Napurrurla Nelson 107x46cm janganpa Jukurrpa (Brush-tail Possum Dreaming) – Mawurrji ART87624SNN

Kaylene Nungurrayi Brown

ART19224ny

Kaylene Nungarrayi Brown 122x46cm Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming)

Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming)

This painting depicts Nakamarra and Napurrurla women hunting for bush foods. The ‘kirda’ (owners) for this story are Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/ Jupurrurla men. Yumurrpa and Wapurtali are two major Dreaming sites owned by the Nakamarra/Jakamarra and Napurrurla/ Jupurrurla subsections; these sites are also associated with bush food Dreamings. Yumurrpa is a major waterhole to the northwest of Yuendumu and a ‘yarla’ (bush potato [Ipomea costata]) Dreaming site. The area north of Wapurtali/Yintaramurru (Mt. Singleton) is a ‘wanakiji’ (bush tomato [Solanum chippendalei]) Dreaming site.

Warlpiri women hunt for a number of different bush foods at different times of the year. These include ‘ngarlkirdi’ (witchetty grubs [Endoxyla leucomochla larvae]), ‘yunkaranyi’ (honey ants [Camponotus inflatus]), ‘jintiparnta’ and ‘purlantarri’ (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]), ‘yuparli’ (bush bananas [Marsdenia australis]), ‘janmarda’ (bush onions [Cyperus bulbosus]), ‘pirlala’ (bush beans [Acacia coriacea seeds]), ‘ngarlajiyi’ (bush carrots [Vigna lanceolata]), ‘wayipi’ (small bush carrots [ Boerhavia diffusa]), and ‘yakajirri’ (bush raisins [ Solanum centrale]). Women traditionally dug for these foods using wooden ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks). The end of the digging sticks were charred and ground on a stone surface to create a bevelled edge. Today many Warlpiri women use crowbars (also called ‘karlangu’) to dig for bush foods. Collected bush foods are traditionally carried in ‘parraja’ (coolamons), which can be carried with a strap made from the ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine [Tinospora smilacina]).

In Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. Concentric circles are often used to represent the bush foods that the women have collected, while straight lines can be used to depict the ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks). Sinuous lines are often used to represent the ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine).

Julie Nangala Robertson

Satellite image of Lake Mackay. Photo: NASA (open source)

Julie Nangala Robertson

Julie Nangala Robertson is one of ﬁve daughters born in Yuendumu in 1973 to well-known Telstra Award winning artist, Dorothy Napangardi (Dec 2013). Since the late 1990's, while often in the company of her talented mother, Julie has pursued and developed a creative visual language of her own, one which consists of a fascinating blend of stylised experimentation and ancient narrative.

Utilising an aerial perspective along with a more recently and established distinctive monochromatic pallette, Julie's current paintings which depict the topographical features of her traditional country at the site of Pirlinyanu have become works of extraordinary optical brilliance as she alternates the size of dots throughout her work as well as building up speciﬁc shapes or reference points often repeated with overdotting.

Julie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2007. She paints her mother’s Jukurrpa stories, stories that have been passed down to her by her mother and all the mothers before them for millennia. Her work has been included in numerous collections and exhibitions of Aboriginal Art in both Australia and overseas.

Mina Mina Jukurrpa – Mina Mina Dreaming story

This ‘Jukurrpa’ (Dreaming) comes from Mina Mina, a very important women’s Dreaming site far to the west of Yuendumu near Lake Mackay and the WA border. The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this Dreaming are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men; the area is sacred to Napangardi and Napanangka women. There are a number of ‘mulju’ (water soakages) and a ‘maluri’ (clay pan) at Mina Mina.

In the Dreamtime, ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. The women collected the digging sticks and then travelled on to the east, dancing, digging for bush tucker, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine [Tinospora smilacina]), and creating many places as they went. ‘Ngalyipi’ is a rope-like creeper that grows up the trunks and limbs of trees, including ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]). It is used as a ceremonial wrap and as a strap to carry ‘parraja’ (coolamons) and ‘ngami’ (water carriers). ‘Ngalyipi’ is also used to apply around the forehead to cure headaches, and to bind cuts. The women stopped at Karntakurlangu, Janyinki, Parapurnta, Kimayi, and Munyuparntiparnti, sites spanning from the west to the east of Yuendumu. When they stopped, the women dug for bush foods like ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truﬄe [Elderia arenivaga]). The Dreaming track eventually took them far beyond Warlpiri country. The track passed through Coniston in Anmatyerre country to the east, and then went on to Alcoota and Aileron far to the northeast of Yuendumu and eventually on into Queensland.

Opposite page: Julie Nangala Robertson -Mina Mina Dreaming - all sized 30x30cm; Cat clockwise from top left ART377924JNR; ART378124JNR; ART856323JNR; ART390124JNR

Sabrina Nangala Robertson

Sabrina Nangala Robertson was born in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia.

She is the daughter of the acclaimed Aboriginal artist Dorothy Napangadi. Sabrina grew up in Yuendumu and went to the local school. She now alternates between living in Yuendumu and Alice Springs. She has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2005.

Julie paints her father’s Jukurrpa or Dreaming, stories passed down to her by her father and her father’s father before her for millennia. These stories relate to her traditional land, Pirlinyarnu (Mt Farewell), its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Sabrina has exhibited in Australia and in France.

Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) - Pirlinyarnu

The site depicted in her paintings is Pirlinyarnu (Mt Farewell) about 165km west of Yuendumu in the Northern territory. The kirda (owners) for the water Dreaming site at Pirlinyarnu are Nangala/Nampijinpa women and Jangala/Jampijinpa men.

Two Jangala men, rainmakers sang the rain unleashing a giant storm that collided with another storm from Wapurtali at Mirawarri. A ‘kirrkarlanji’ (brown falcom) carried the storm further west from Mirawarri. The two storms travelled across the country from karlipirnpa, a ceremonial site for the water dreaming near Kintore . Along the way the storms passed through Juntiparnta and eventually became too heavy for the falcon. It dropped the water at Pirlinyarnu where it formed an enormous maluri (claypan) A mulju (soakage) exists in the place today. Whenever it rains today hundreds of ngapangarlpa (bush ducks) still flock to Pirlinyarnu.

AR559123SNR; Bottom: 61x30cm L-R ART460123SNR; ART145924SNR; ART404823SNR

Sabrina Nangala Robertson - Ngapa Jukurpa (Water Dreaming) Top: 107x30cm

With gratitude and thanks to the artists whose paintings enlighten our lives through story, colour and inspiration.

All artists live and work in and around Yuendumu in the Northern Territory at the Warlukurlangu Artists art centre .

We send special thanks to Art Centre Manager Cecilia Alfonso OAM for taking the time to travel from Yuendumu to South Fremantle, Western Australia to attend the exhibition opening weekend on behalf of the artists.

Artitja Fine Art Gallery has worked closely with the art centre for over two decades.

Artist and artwork information and images supplied by Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu art centre and Artitja Fine Art Gallery

Design and copy by Anna Kanaris

Artitja Fine Art Gallery is a member of the Indigenous Art Code

Anna Kanaris, Director, Artitja Fine Art Gallery – visit to Yuendumu May 2022

Since opening in March 2004, Artitja Fine Art Gallery have specialised in presenting art from First Nations artists from multiple remote community Aboriginal Art Centres throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including the Tiwi Islands and the Anangu, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Artitja is based in South Fremantle

Artitja holds up to five exhibitions a year in gallery exhibition spaces, details of which can be found on our website. At all other times we are open for viewing by appointment.

Operating by appointment enables us to make the gallery visit comfortable and accessible. We pride ourselves on providing a personalised and informative approach to viewing and collecting art in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

- Artitja Director Anna Kanaris

"Making Cultural Connections through Art“

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