contemporary art world. Typically large meandering canvases tell of complex, yet fundamental, stories of ownership and land rights fused with whimsical stories of creation handed from generation to generation.R E D O T F I N E A R T G A L L E R Y in conjunction with Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency The Spinifex artists continue to paint traditional stories and document kinship responsibilities and these works have become widely knownpresents in the fine art world as some of the most important modern contemporary Indigenous art pieces being produced today. This growing reputation is also gaining international acclaim and the works are now housed within major art and museum collections both in Australia and overseas, with recent acquisitions by the British Museum making headlines and a major show in Germany in 2013. This exhibition showcasing works by old master such as Fred Grant, Ned Grant, Roy Underwood, Estelle Hogan, Tjaruwa Woods and Lawrence Pennington, to mention but a few, opens on Wednesday, 14th May and runs till Saturday, 21st June 2014 and it is a must-see for anyone interested in following the development of modern contemporary Indigenous art, from one of the Aboriginal art movements most remote, refreshing and innovative art centres.
Cory/Molly/Stumpy
Giorgio Pilla Director ReDot Fine Art Gallery
13 th August - 13 th September 2014
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Cory/Molly/Stumpy Following on from last year’s release of works from the estate of Paji Wajina Honeychild Yankarr, ReDot Fine Art Gallery is honoured and excited to be able to announce the estates and final works of three other senior women from the same community, the highly esteemed Wakartu Cory Surprise, Nyuju Stumpy Brown and Walka Molly Rogers. Simply titled ‘Cory/Molly/Stumpy’, this exhibition will celebrate their amazing talents with works both on canvas and paper, dating back over 20 years, blatant records of desert country with the recurring theme being the Jila (waterhole) of various sites in the Great Sandy Desert which is one of the major ancestral areas for their people. All three women were founding members of Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency in the early nineties and first exhibited work in the exhibition ‘Karrayili’ in Tandanya, Adelaide, 1991. They were also represented in Images of Power: Aboriginal Art of the Kimberley, National Gallery of Victoria, 1993. They instantly gained national recognition and became part of the core group of
(New) Mangkaja Art Centre Source: © Mangkaja Arts
artists at the art centre who continued to paint and exhibit consistently throughout the 1990s and 2000s with their domestic appeal soon moving internationally. Cory and Stumpy eventually became two of the best known Indigenous artists in Australia and Molly creating a solid fan base for her whimsical portraits of Kimberley waterholes. They also jointly worked on the two eminent Ngurrara canvases in 1997, which were pivotal in proving the group’s connection to country and later led to their successful Ngurrara Native Title Claim. Nyuju’s effervescent, intuitive and brightly hued paintings reflect a spritely and engaging character that belies the hardships and cultural dislocation that she experienced in her long life. Wakartu on the other hand came to painting relatively late in life, at around the age of 50, after many years of rigorous station work. There’s nothing overly typical though about Wakartu’s paintings. In a community and art centre acclaimed for both its large-scale collaborations and major individual talents, Wakartu wielded a powerful blend of nononsense seniority and sheer, expressive originality. Walka blended effortlessly between the pair, contrasting, complimenting and threading together the complex stories these women had to tell. Wakartu’s bold compositions, restricted palette and sheer expressive originality had her admirers proclaiming her among Australia’s foremost abstract painters, Nyuju and Walka sat very close by on this scale. A never to be repeated show, there are over 50 works, from major canvases to exquisite small works on paper, capturing one of the most important bodies of Indigenous work to have left Australia in many years. The exhibition opens on Wednesday, 13th August and runs till Saturday, 13th September 2014 and it is a must-see for anyone interested in following the development of modern contemporary Indigenous art, from one of the Aboriginal art movements most refreshing and innovative art centres.
Giorgio Pilla Director ReDot Fine Art Gallery
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
01/07/1929 10/2011 Walmajarri Pirrmal, Great Sandy Desert
“I was born at Tapu in the Great Sandy desert around 1929. Tapu is my father’s country and Kurtal is my mother’s country. My parents died when I was a baby. I grew up at Wayampajarti and that is my country now. I don’t remember my mummy or daddy. They passed away in the desert. When I was crawling my sister-in-law Trixie took me to Christmas Creek. I was promised to one old man who had two wives. We had no clothes when we went in. We were frightened of the Station Manager so we ran away from that place. Two times we ran away to the desert. I walked out from the bush as a young woman with my two brothers. We were living at Wayampajarti and around that country there. At Wayampajarti there is a jila [permanent waterhole] where Kalpartu [an ancestral snake] lives. When we lived out in the bush we learnt the law. We learnt where the water is, where our country is and where to find food.You have to be careful not to go to the wrong places because you might make the Kalpartu [spirit snake] angry or them other ones like Kukurr Murungkurr Parlangan.You could make other people angry too.You need permission to go to other people’s country. I went to the desert with my husband to look for kumanjayi [deceased] Pijaju out there, then we all came back for ceremony. My husband did contract work building fences. I followed him on those contracts. I worked as a camp cook. I cooked food for big mobs of people. I cleaned, cooked and milked goats. We worked at Quanbun Downs, Jubilee Station,Yiyili and Cherrabun Station. Then I lived mainly at one place, GoGo Station (near Fitzroy Crossing) until I was old. I came to Fitzroy Crossing in the 1950s. I have a big mob of kids and some of them have passed away now. I first started painting at Karrayili Adult Education Centre in the early eighties. We told our stories through painting and learned to speak to kartiya [European person]. I also did painting at Bayulu community near Fitzroy Crossing. That’s how I told my story to kartiya. We worked on paper then, not canvas or board. When I paint, I think about my country, and where I have been travelling across that country. I paint from here (points to head - thinking about country) and here (points to breasts, collarbone and shoulder blades - which is a reference to body painting). I think about my Source: © Mangkaja Arts
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
01/07/1929 10/2011 Walmajarri Pirrmal, Great Sandy Desert
“I was born at Tapu in the Great Sandy desert around 1929. Tapu is my father’s country and Kurtal is my mother’s country. My parents died when I was a baby. I grew up at Wayampajarti and that is my country now. I don’t remember my mummy or daddy. They passed away in the desert. When I was crawling my sister-in-law Trixie took me to Christmas Creek. I was promised to one old man who had two wives. We had no clothes when we went in. We were frightened of the Station Manager so we ran away from that place. Two times we ran away to the desert. I walked out from the bush as a young woman with my two brothers. We were living at Wayampajarti and around that country there. At Wayampajarti there is a jila [permanent waterhole] where Kalpartu [an ancestral snake] lives. When we lived out in the bush we learnt the law. We learnt where the water is, where our country is and where to find food.You have to be careful not to go to the wrong places because you might make the Kalpartu [spirit snake] angry or them other ones like Kukurr Murungkurr Parlangan.You could make other people angry too.You need permission to go to other people’s country. I went to the desert with my husband to look for kumanjayi [deceased] Pijaju out there, then we all came back for ceremony. My husband did contract work building fences. I followed him on those contracts. I worked as a camp cook. I cooked food for big mobs of people. I cleaned, cooked and milked goats. We worked at Quanbun Downs, Jubilee Station,Yiyili and Cherrabun Station. Then I lived mainly at one place, GoGo Station (near Fitzroy Crossing) until I was old. I came to Fitzroy Crossing in the 1950s. I have a big mob of kids and some of them have passed away now. I first started painting at Karrayili Adult Education Centre in the early eighties. We told our stories through painting and learned to speak to kartiya [European person]. I also did painting at Bayulu community near Fitzroy Crossing. That’s how I told my story to kartiya. We worked on paper then, not canvas or board. When I paint, I think about my country, and where I have been travelling across that country. I paint from here (points to head - thinking about country) and here (points to breasts, collarbone and shoulder blades - which is a reference to body painting). I think about my
people, the old people and what they told me and jumangkarni [Dreamtime]. When I paint I am thinking about law from a long time ago. I like painting, it’s good. I get pamarr [word for rock, stone money] for it. I can buy my food, tyres and fix my car. I give some money to my family and I keep some for myself. Nobody taught me how to paint, I put down my own ideas. I saw these places for myself, I went there with the old people. I paint jilji [sand hills], jumu [soak water], jila [permanent waterhole], jiwari [rock hole], pamarr [hills and rock country], I think about mangarri [vegetable food] and kuyu [game] from my country and when I was there.� Wakartu Cory Surprise, 2009
Collections National Museum of Australia National Gallery of Australia National Gallery of Victoria Art Gallery of New South Wales Queensland Art Gallery Charles Darwin University Steve Luzco Collection, San Francisco, USA Sammlung Alison and Peter W Klein Collection, Germany Laverty Collection HBL Collection, Melbourne Harriett and Richard England Collection Fitzroy Crossing High School Fitzroy Crossing Hospital Peter & Agnes Cooke Collection
Solo Exhibition 2011 2009 2007 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004
Wakartu Cory Surprise, Seva Frangos Art, WA Wakartu Cory Surprise, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, NSW Wakartu Cory Surprise, Silvershot Gallery Raft Artspace, Melbourne,VIC Wakartu Cory Surprise: New Works, Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT Wakartu Cory Surprise, Silvershot Gallery Raft Artspace, Melbourne,VIC Mangkaja Arts Presents: Wakartu Cory Surprise, Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT Cory and Friends, ReDot Fine Art Gallery, Singapore Wakartu Cory Surprise, Boutwell Draper Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Awards 2010 Western Australian Premier’s Indigenous Art Award, Winner of the WA $50,000 Overall Art Award 2009 Western Australian Premier’s Indigenous Art Award Winner of the ‘WA $10,000 Artist’ Award 2008 25th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Highly commended 1997 14th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Winner of the ‘Telstra Work on Paper’ Award
Works on Canvas
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirntirri Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 929/10
Warla and jilji all around, in the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mimbi Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 928/07
Big one water hole; mine one! All the men go there first, then the women.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 905/09
This painting is about my country near Tapu. These sandhills all around.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tjarrarri Warla Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 733/09
Biggest warla, my one this one, biggest jilji like a hill. We been living there when I was a kid. Biggest mob been living there.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Jila Waterhole Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 498/08
In Tapu there are four jila (permanent waterholes). We can’t drink from three of them, only from one. The other three are places for men’s ceremony. This is an important waterhole for my people. I have not been there since I was a little girl. I remember being there with my brother. In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) people lived here, from a long time (ago). They are midgets, little people. They were all around that jila (living water, spring), a long time ago in the Dreamtime. They all met at this place, they look out for the people in the country, they look after the people there, the people from that country. One of those Dreamtime people, from a long time ago, found a white snake here at Tapu. He was a countryman, he was there for a long time. The water in this jila (water hole) rises up from the ground when you dig him up, he big one this jila. This is my country, big mob of turtujarti (desert walnut), we got plenty of miyi (bush tucker) here, jurnta (bush onion), kumpuparja (bush tomato).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilji Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 391/08
This painting is a place called Mimbi - living water.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Palma Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 283/10
After the rain the water runs through the jilji (sandhills).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Myarta Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 120cm 103/09
There is a large waterhole in my country but I never put it in this painting. This is all the pamarr (rock and hills).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pitil Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 140 x 100cm 495/08
Pitil jila (waterhole) he right up close to wayampajarti jila, he got jilji (sandhill) all around. Here through the jilji all the people have been walk through this country. Its got turtujarti (desert walnut) and miljita growing here on top of the jilji and tinyjil (snappy gum).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tep Jila (Waterhole) Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 90cm 600/09
Biggest one waterhole this one right out in the Great Sandy Desert. That little eagle he there, he has been calling out. Wakartu imitates the sound.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pitmarl Jila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 90cm 738/09
Biggest one jila he got a snake inside.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Nanujararlalong Jila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 90cm 1189/08
Long way in the Great Sandy Desert. This is my mother’s country. It is a jila (waterhole) in the middle with jilji (sandhills) all around.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pitil Jila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 90cm 461/09
This biggest one jila (waterhole) out in my country. My place this one, he got pirnti (small claypan with clear water) and jila (permanent waterhole).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Yinijaparri Jumu Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 120 x 90cm pc259/04
This jumu (soakwater) is in the Tapu area. This is jumu country and pamarr (rocky hill country). It is known for the yellow ocher that can be found here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 120 x 90cm pc531/04
This depicts an important waterhole (jila) in Cory’s country, the Canning Stock region of the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirnti Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 152 x 55cm pc434/04
This depicts a big warla (lake) in Cory’s country. Cory and her people walk to and from this site.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 90 x 90cm 106/07
This one here tapu, He big one jila biggest one rockhole, my one I been born here in tapu.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilji Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 120 x 60cm pc517/04
We have been walking a long time, my kirlaki (grandfather - fathers father) my ngawiji (grandmother - fathers mother), my ngamaji (mother) and my ngarpu (father) and before that a long time all our people walked through the Jilji (sandhills) in the Great Sandy Desert. In the jumangkarni (dreamtime) big mob of people walked one by one across the Jilji. In the Jilji we catch that wirlka (sand goanna) there is also marlu (kangaroo) and wallaby, and mangarri (vegetable food).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirntiti Warla Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 60cm 291/07
Big one warla (large claypan) out near wayampajarti in my country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mukurutu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 120 x 60cm 108/07
This big one rockhole jila. Lots of mangarri (food) and kuyu (meat) here, he got jurnta (bush onion) next to water. Also bushhoney and lots of bush food, big mob kumpupaja everywhere. All them people they get big mobs of mangarri here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirnti Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 80 x 60cm pc198/05
Pirnti (Claypan) while walking through the desert we may stop to camp at a dry claypan. There are often lots of bush tucker found around a pirnti.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pakanyungu Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 76 x 50.5cm pc335/04
My sister, Amy, was born here. Women have been camping here a long time. It is a place for women to camp, no men sleep here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mantata Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 76 x 50.5cm pc334/04
This is a big one, a big waterhole that we travelled to.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mukurrtu Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 76 x 50.5cm pc332/04
This is a big round jila (living spring) in my country, in sandhill country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jila (Walypa) Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 60 x 60cm 906/07
Jila (water hole or soak) next to Tapu.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jumu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 60 x 60cm 907/07
Jarru is the name of this waterhole in The Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Nyimpi Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 70 x 45cm pc134/04
This is an important jila (spring) in my country, the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Kirriwirri Kartu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 60 x 45cm 271/07
This Pirnti (claypan) in my country. This Pirnti big one. I have been working around here when I was a little girl. My mother took me away from this place when I was little she took me away from my father’s country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Wyampajatu Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 60 x 30cm pc485/04
This depicts a big waterhole in Cory’s country, the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Karru Atelier Artist Acrylic on 10oz Cotton Duck 60 x 30cm pc486/04
This depicts a waterhole in Cory’s country, the Great Sandy Desert. These are the jilji (sandhills) around the area.
Works on Paper
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirntirri Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 112 x 76cm 826/08
Biggest Warla in the Great Sandy Desert. We used to camp here at this place. Biggest camp for big mob of people. Good camp this one, me fella camp. Lots of mangarri (bushfood) and kuyu (game) here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Karru Jiwari, Jumu & Palma Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 112 x 76cm wp194/01
This one little one jiwari (rockhole) with jumu (soakwater) and palma (creek).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Ngarrangkarni Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 280gsm Velin BFK Rives 112 x 76cm 273/12
I was born here at pirrmal. This is a place for ceremony. This is a place for men and women’s ceremony. The men ’play’ on one side and the women on the other. The line down the middle was made in the Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) when the women walked this way. (Artwork completed early 90’s)
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Wirrikarjarti Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 280gsm Velin BFK Rives 105 x 76cm wp030/96
This is my family’s country called Wirrikarjarti. There are lots of jilji (sandhills) and one waterhole. This is a jila (permanent waterhole). When I was a kid my family used to bring me here a lot. We went hunting and walkabout here. We used to camp here too. I have painted the wirlany. Wirlany is a cloud that gives us a sign for rain.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pamarr Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 280gsm Velin BFK Rives 105 x 75cm 53/12
(Rocky Hill) This is a good place for climbing up to look out a long way. In the Dreamtime one man was looking out over all the people. They were frightened of him being there. On reverse - [Painted 7 May 1993]
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pamarr Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75cm 828/08
(Rocky Hill) This is a good place for climbing up to look out a long way. In the Dreamtime one man was looking out over all the people. They were frightened of him being there.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pamarr Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75cm 200/12
(Rocky Hill) This is a good place for climbing up to look out a long way. In the Dreamtime one man was looking out over all the people. They were frightened of him being there.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Wyampajarri Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 60cm 156/12
This is an important jila (spring) for ceremony. This is my country in the Great Sandy Desert. This painting was painted for dancing the Wyampajarri corroboree. (Artwork completed early 90’s)
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Walmajari Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56.5cm wp298/04
This is a big jila (spring) in my country, the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Ngarrangkarni Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 280gsm Velin BFK Rives 76 x 56cm wp108/92
I was born here at pirrmal. This is a place for ceremony. This is a place for men and women’s ceremony. The men ’play’ on one side and the women on the other. The line down the middle was made in the Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) when the women walked this way. On reverse - [Painted 15 April 1992]
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Wyampayarri Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm 176/13
This is an important big jila (spring/living water) in my country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pamarr Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm wp171/04
(Rocky Hill) This is a good place for climbing up to look out a long way. In the Dreamtime one man was looking out over all the people. They were frightened of him being there.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm wp202/04
This is an important jila (living water) in my country. Lots of people would come here for ceremony.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mukurutu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 77/08
Mukurutu pronounced Mookoorootoo is the area of Wakartu’s family, the old fella been gone a long time.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mimpi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 177/13
Big ngapa (water) long way desert side, that ngapa is in between that jilji (sandhills). We call it mimpi (pronounced mimbee), that place.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mytarta Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm 179/13
This place is called Mytarta - biggest one jila (waterhole). Lots of mangarri (food) around here. Plenty of tucker here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pintirl Warla Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm 180/13
Biggest one warla (large claypan), three fella, my fella country for my mother and father, my mummy been take me here, we been camp here long time. The three circles represent people who have turned into waterholes, at Pintirl Warla.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Tapu Warla Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm 182/13
Tapu this one warla (large claypan that holds rainwater), jilji (sandhills) all around.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Nyimpi Waterhole Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm 183/13
This is an important jila (spring) in my country, the Great Sandy Desert.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Mytarta Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm 189/13
This place is called Mytarta - biggest one jila (waterhole). Lots of mangarri (food) around here. Plenty of tucker here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Myarta Jiwari (Rockhole) Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm wp326/99
This one rockhole, Myarta he called, he got big jilji (sandhills) all around.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilljie My Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm wp361/03
Jilljie is where I grew up. In this area as a child growing up into a woman.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilljie My Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65.5 x 50cm wp362/03
Jilljie is where I grew up. In this area as a child growing up into a woman.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Kutarmiti Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65 x 50cm 181/13
Two jilas (waterholes) to the east side of the Great Sandy Desert. A lot of jilji (sandhills).
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilljie My Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 36cm wp293/04
Jilljie is where I grew up. In this area as a child growing up into a woman.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Jilji Sandhills Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 35cm wp325/05
Jilji (sandhills) in the Great Sandy Desert. We walk across the jilji to get from one jila (waterhole) to another.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Kurtutu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 34cm wp330/05
This is a big jila (living water) in my country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Wyampajarri Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 34cm wp649/05
This is an important jila for ceremony in my country.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Ngarrangkarni Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 280gsm Velin BFK Rives 56 x 38cm wp014/96
I was born here at pirrmal. This is a place for ceremony. This is a place for men and women’s ceremony. The men ’play’ on one side and the women on the other. The line down the middle was made in the Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) when the women walked this way.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirntirri Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 52.5 x 37cm 174/13
Biggest Warla in the Great Sandy Desert. We used to camp here at this place. Biggest camp for big mob of people. Good camp this one, me fella camp. Lots of mangarri (bushfood) and kuyu (game) here.
Wakartu Cory SURPRISE
Pirnti Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 27cm wp647/05
(Claypan) Good place for camping.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
c. 1930 11/2006 Walmajarri Great Sandy Desert
Molly Rogers was born in 1930 in the bush at Japirnka, her country, south of Fitzroy Crossing in the Great Sandy Desert. Her Aboriginal name is Walka. She is the eldest of four children. Her mother and father passed away in country called Timber Creek and she was brought up by her grandmother and her cousin, Peter Skipper’s grandmother. Some time later she met her promised husband who took her to Kumpujarti and then to a succession of different sites including Mangarla, Puluwala jila. Later she moved to Bayulu where she attended Karrayili Adult Education Centre and began to paint. Her work was first included in a Bayulu community exhibition at Indigenart, Subiaco in 1997. “Longtime ago when I was living in the bush we use to go hunting for these animals, wirkla (sand goanna), lungkara (blue tongue lizard).When we light the fire the smoke brings the animals out its easy to catch it, like minyngajurru (golden bandicoot), minyjarti (great desert skink) also ngiyari (mountain devil) and raltariyi (kangaroo). I was born in my country called Japirnka (waterhole), it’s south from here to the Great Sandy Desert that’s where my mother had me.Then she passed away in this country called Jurnjawarla (waterhole). I am the oldest then Huey Bent, then Jimmy Wora, they my young sister Patsy Bangu only four of us.The other three weren’t born where I was, my mother had to travel a bit farther to a place called Jarlkurru (waterhole).That’s where they was born also they haven’t seen our mother and father since they was kids they both died when they was small I’m the only one who knew them. Our Grandmothers had to look after them until I grew up. Our Grandmother died not far from Lumpa Lumpa (waterhole).There’s a windmill not very far from there also this is where our mother and father died in this country called Timber Creek.” Molly Rogers, 1996
Collections National Gallery of Victoria Karrayili Adult Education Centre Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT Source: © Mangkaja Arts
Walka Molly ROGERS
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
c. 1930 11/2006 Walmajarri Great Sandy Desert
Molly Rogers was born in 1930 in the bush at Japirnka, her country, south of Fitzroy Crossing in the Great Sandy Desert. Her Aboriginal name is Walka. She is the eldest of four children. Her mother and father passed away in country called Timber Creek and she was brought up by her grandmother and her cousin, Peter Skipper’s grandmother. Some time later she met her promised husband who took her to Kumpujarti and then to a succession of different sites including Mangarla, Puluwala jila. Later she moved to Bayulu where she attended Karrayili Adult Education Centre and began to paint. Her work was first included in a Bayulu community exhibition at Indigenart, Subiaco in 1997. “Longtime ago when I was living in the bush we use to go hunting for these animals, wirkla (sand goanna), lungkara (blue tongue lizard).When we light the fire the smoke brings the animals out its easy to catch it, like minyngajurru (golden bandicoot), minyjarti (great desert skink) also ngiyari (mountain devil) and raltariyi (kangaroo). I was born in my country called Japirnka (waterhole), it’s south from here to the Great Sandy Desert that’s where my mother had me.Then she passed away in this country called Jurnjawarla (waterhole). I am the oldest then Huey Bent, then Jimmy Wora, they my young sister Patsy Bangu only four of us.The other three weren’t born where I was, my mother had to travel a bit farther to a place called Jarlkurru (waterhole).That’s where they was born also they haven’t seen our mother and father since they was kids they both died when they was small I’m the only one who knew them. Our Grandmothers had to look after them until I grew up. Our Grandmother died not far from Lumpa Lumpa (waterhole).There’s a windmill not very far from there also this is where our mother and father died in this country called Timber Creek.” Molly Rogers, 1996
Collections National Gallery of Victoria Karrayili Adult Education Centre Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 112 x 76cm wp083/2000
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp082/2000
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Kutarmiti Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 193/12
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp230/97
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm wp182/95
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 200/13
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 199/13
This is my country that way in the desert I was born here and grew up here. Me and my brother and sister lived together in one family, we played together and we used to fight.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Jila and Jumu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 75cm 204/13
This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place and move on to other place.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75cm 201/12
Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka. There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There are high jilji, big ones all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
My Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75.5cm 205/13
This is my country, I was born near here, my daughter was born near here too, in the bush. Japirnka jila (spring) is a long way from Fitzroy Crossing, there are high sandhills. It is a big place for ceremony. There is a snake living here at Japirnka.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm wp046/97
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Great Sandy Desert Acrylic Matt Paint, 300gsm S & W paper 76 x 56cm wp215/98
This is a jila (living water/spring) in my country, the Great Sandy Desert.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 53cm wp216/98
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
My Mum and My Father Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75.5 x 53cm 191/13
This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place at night and move on to other place.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 18/12
Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka. There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There high jilji, big ones all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp172/01
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp044/97
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp043/97
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp155/97
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japirnka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 198/13
This is my country Japirnka. This country is a long way from Fitzroy Crossing. It is desert country. There is a jila (living water) there. There is a snake living here at Japirnka. It is a big place for ceremony. I grew up here at Japirnka jila.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp218/98
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Jilji and Claypan Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 192/13
This is sandhill (Jilji) and small waterholes the green represents water claypan country that way in my Japingka Jila.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm wp212/98
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 53cm 194/13
This place is where I grew up when I was a little girl I used to go walk about with my parents and we used to camp at this place and move on to other place.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Najyi Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 52.5cm wp214/98
This side of Kaningarra. All my family from this place have passed away. I am the only one left. This is the country for Butcher Cherel too. My brother had a Gooniyandi wife. We all shared this place. The big white area is a lake. At the top (right) is a proper soakwater that has water all year. The trees are tinyjil (snappy gum). There are red flowers there too. The hill is Najyi country. People used to live there but no one is there now. They have all gone working for kartiya. This is dangerous country for strangers. Water bubbles from everywhere and when that happens that snake is coming.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 75 x 52cm 29/12
Japingka is the place where I was born. This is my country, Japingka. It is good water at Japingka. There is soak water nearby too, but it is rubbish water, not living water. There are jilji (sandhills) all around and warla (claypan depression). There high jilji, big ones all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 66 x 50cm 201/13
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 66 x 50cm 195/13
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Jilji Claypan Country Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 56 x 38cm 190/13
This is jilji country and claypan country near Japingka my country I used to play here when I was a little girl.
Walka Molly ROGERS
Japingka Jila Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 53 x 38cm wp327/96
My country Japingka the boomerang shape is called mangkajakurra my people used to live in it many years ago from the rain and storms Jilji all around.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
c. 1924 08/2011 Wangkajunga Great Sandy Desert
Nyuju was one of the senior artists at Mangkaja until her passing in 2011. Her effervescent, intuitive and brightly hued paintings reflected a spritely and engaging character that belies the hardships and cultural dislocation that Nyuju experienced in her long life. Perhaps the hardest of all was being removed from her ancestral lands around Ngapawarlu on the Canning Stock Route in the Great Sandy Desert. Nyuju’s relationship to her country was at the very core of her work. At a young age Nyuju was taken by her Uncle to the Catholic mission at Balgo Hills beyond the south east edge of the Kimberley. Here she learnt kartiya (white people) ways before moving to Fitzroy Crossing where she grew up and remained most of her life. She was the mother of three daughters by her late husband Pukulu and went on to marry another Mangkaja artist Hitler Pamba. She worked as a domestic at both Emmanuel and Bohemia Downs Stations, “We got no money for work. We got tea, meat and tobacco”. Within Mangkaja Nyuju not only enjoyed the companionship of other artists but also the earnings made from the sale of her work, which was a vastly contrasting experience of the first white contact she experienced on Stations. Nyuju was deeply involved with Wangkajunga law and tradition and was a leader of nyanpi or ceremonies. It was the intense knowledge of law and her love of the land that she poured into her artwork. Nyuju was one of a number of senior artists who painted the two huge Ngurrara canvases in 1996 to be used in a land rights action brought by people living in and around Fitzroy Crossing claiming some 800,000 hectares of Crown Land in the Great Sandy Desert from where they had been driven off in the 1950s and 1960s. These enormous ‘maps’ of the country show all the ‘living’ freshwater holes (jila) of these people across the expanse of the desert.
Source: © Mangkaja Arts
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Birth Date Deceased Language Home
c. 1924 08/2011 Wangkajunga Great Sandy Desert
Nyuju was one of the senior artists at Mangkaja until her passing in 2011. Her effervescent, intuitive and brightly hued paintings reflected a spritely and engaging character that belies the hardships and cultural dislocation that Nyuju experienced in her long life. Perhaps the hardest of all was being removed from her ancestral lands around Ngapawarlu on the Canning Stock Route in the Great Sandy Desert. Nyuju’s relationship to her country was at the very core of her work. At a young age Nyuju was taken by her Uncle to the Catholic mission at Balgo Hills beyond the south east edge of the Kimberley. Here she learnt kartiya (white people) ways before moving to Fitzroy Crossing where she grew up and remained most of her life. She was the mother of three daughters by her late husband Pukulu and went on to marry another Mangkaja artist Hitler Pamba. She worked as a domestic at both Emmanuel and Bohemia Downs Stations, “We got no money for work. We got tea, meat and tobacco”. Within Mangkaja Nyuju not only enjoyed the companionship of other artists but also the earnings made from the sale of her work, which was a vastly contrasting experience of the first white contact she experienced on Stations. Nyuju was deeply involved with Wangkajunga law and tradition and was a leader of nyanpi or ceremonies. It was the intense knowledge of law and her love of the land that she poured into her artwork. Nyuju was one of a number of senior artists who painted the two huge Ngurrara canvases in 1996 to be used in a land rights action brought by people living in and around Fitzroy Crossing claiming some 800,000 hectares of Crown Land in the Great Sandy Desert from where they had been driven off in the 1950s and 1960s. These enormous ‘maps’ of the country show all the ‘living’ freshwater holes (jila) of these people across the expanse of the desert.
Statement from Nyuju in 2003: “My paintings are about my country, my mothers’ country and my fathers’ country. I didn’t know my mother and my father. I lost them when I was young. We lived in desert country. I paint the waterholes and bush tucker found at those waterholes. We were living on bush tucker in the desert, on bush tucker only. I paint about the time before we knew kartiya. We were frightened of kartiya, we would hide behind the bushes because they might shoot us. Because we didn’t know white people we were afraid. We didn’t know what aeroplanes were, that noise was frightening, we hid down behind the bushes. My country is in the desert, the Great Sandy Desert. I lived in the desert with my mother and father but when I lost them I was found by Wally Darlington (Uncle) and he took me to the mission in Balgo. We were naked ‘till we got to Balgo, the missionaries give us clothes there. We learned about kartiya there at the mission in Balgo. The places I paint, Marntilajarra, Kurrkumalu, Kuwiyalpa, Larrikulu, Ngutukurangu, Nyirla,Walpa and Wararwara are some of the waterholes in my country. We collected water with marnma (coolaman) by digging the ground with it and then using that same tool to carry the water. We passed through rocky country and sandhill country. After the rain there was water lying in rock holes. There was also water lying on the surface, lakes formed in claypans on the plain country. There were plenty of places to drink in the wet time. After it dries a bit we had to dig for water at juljulpa (soakwater) and carry it with us. Since we got the shed at Mangkaja in Fitzroy Crossing I have been painting more than before. I can paint there a lot. Other artists are there and we can talk about those time in the desert and other things that were common with our people. I like that Mangkaja shed because other people are painting there too. I can share the history of our culture and our times in the desert and coming out of the desert to live. There have been a lot of changes in the way we live now and painting is part of that change. Painting helps with the changes that have happened. My painting is important to my people because we don’t have to worry about what people are doing. We can sell paintings and not rely on bush tucker to live. Although we live in Fitzroy Crossing and at Wangkatjunga now, the connection with the desert is alive within our culture. It is my country that I paint, my fathers’ country and my mothers’ country.”
Collections National Museum of Australia National Gallery of Victoria Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia Northern Territory University
Solo Exhibition 2006 The Colours of Water, A Collection of Works by Nyuju Stumpy Brown, ReDot Fine Art Gallery, Singapore 2003 Nyuju Stumpy Brown – My Country, Boutwell Draper Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Works on Canvas
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarlu Waterhole Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 180 x 90cm pc657/05
This is Canning Stock Route, Burrakaburraka Country Great Sandy Desert. I walk all the way through the sandhill country. I have been cooking for the Camel mob long time ago.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Jumu and Warla Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 140 x 100cm pc496/04
This is a painting about the soakwater waterholes and claypan waterholes of the Canning Stock Route.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Nyila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 90 x 90cm 467/07
This country is called Nyila. It is rocky country. After the wet, when the water has dried up, there is green grass around the jila (permanent waterhole), between the jilji (sandhills). The pamarr (rocks) and jilji (sandhills) are all red. It is good country for hunting. I was born near to this place, on the southern end of the Canning Stock Route.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Warla Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 90 x 60cm pc571/06
This is a lake (warla) in my country.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarlu Jila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 90 x 60cm pc575/06
Ngapawarlu jila is a waterhole in my Country, the Great Sandy desert. I was born here in this country, I belong here to this jila now.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Jila Country Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 85 x 60cm 75/13
This jila country is south of Canning Stock Route. Ngarragkarni (dreamtime) women camped and stayed here. They had food and kept walking.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Nyilu Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 85 x 60cm 74/13
This Country is called Nyilu. When the rain season comes, there is water and the desert comes to life. There is water in rockholes and along the creeks (karru) on other side of Canning Stock Route where I was born.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarla Jila Atelier Acrylic Paint on 11oz Canvas 80 x 60cm 29/07
Ngapawarla is a jila (waterhole) in my country in the Great Sandy Desert, I was born at this jila, I belong here to this jila now.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Wirrakuja Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 100 x 45cm pc270/05
Long way out near the Canning Stock Route in my country, we call it Burrakaburraka country in the Great Sandy Desert. This is jilji (sandhill) country. I came from the Canning Stock Route all the way down to here, I walked all that way. I had been working and cooking for them cattle mob, long time ago. The two top circles are Jila (waterholes) the bottom two are jumu (soakwater) from that country.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarlu Waterhole Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 60 x 45cm pc472/07
This is where I was born in the Great Sandy Desert, my families’ country Ngapawarlu country.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Wirrakuja Atelier Acrylic Paint on 14oz Canvas 60 x 30cm 562/06
Long way out near the Canning Stock Route in my country, we call it Burrakaburraka country in the Great Sandy Desert. This is jilji (sandhill) country. I came from the Canning Stock Route all the way down to here, I walked all that way. I had been working and cooking for them cattle mob, long time ago. The two top circles are Jila (waterholes) the bottom two are jumu (soakwater) from that country.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Walpa Warla Atelier Artist Acrylic on 11oz Cotton Duck 60 x 30cm pc159/05
This is a well on the Canning Stock Route. There is a wheel driven by bullocks to draw water. It is in my country the Great Sandy Desert.
Works on Paper
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Warla Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 150 x 100cm 73/13
This is my husband’s country Warla. When the rain comes it fills the waterhole up and when it gets dry, the lake turns to saltlake, that’s why we call it salty water (kara).
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Jumu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 106 x 76cm wp230/96
This waterhole is in the Canning Stock Route region of the Great Sandy Desert.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Jumu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 76cm wp224/04
These are jumu (waterholes) in my country; the Canning Stock Route region of the Great Sandy Desert.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Kukupanyu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 105 x 75cm wp174/96
This is Kukapanyu when you pass Pangku. It is in the South East of Kukupanyu and we used to walk to this place where there is water here. We lived here many years ago a place called Kulayi big Jila. Old people hide in the water and wait for the birds to come to drink water before catching, cooking and eating them. They are good tucker to eat.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Three Jumu (Soakwater) Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 100 x 45cm 6/06
These are three dried up soakwaters in the Great Sandy desert, in my country near Ngapuwarla.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarlu Country Atelier Acrylic on Paper 76 x 56cm wp096/01
I was born here at Ngapawarlu we used to live here, hunting and going walkabout with the families before the white people came. Now we live on flour, tea and sugar.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Jila Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 56cm 222/09
This is a jila (waterhole) in my country way out, long way near the Canning Stock Route.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Wirrakuja Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 56cm wp589/92
Long way out near the Canning Stock Route in my country we call it Burrakaburraka country in the Great Sandy Desert. This is jilji (sandhill) country. I came from the Canning Stock Route all the way down to here I walked all that way. I have been working and cooking for them cattle mob, long time ago.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Nyilalwas Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 56cm 163/12
This country called Nyilalwas. I was born near this place on the southern end of the Canning Stock Route. When the rain comes it fills up the rockholes and creek (karru), good country to go hunting.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Karlaya (Emu) Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 56cm 693/09
Karlaya (Emu) have been have before Wally Darlington picked me up took me to Balgo. I’m trying to remember which waterhole.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Yirri Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 56cm 692/09
This is Yirri (Spring/living Water) we camped here traveling from Fitzroy Crossing to Balgo.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Salt Lake Claypan Acrylic Matt Paint, 300gsm S & W paper 76 x 56cm 76/13
This painting is all about saltlake waterholes and claypan we used to travel as families through this land many years ago.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Wapawarlu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 76 x 53cm wp348/01
This is a big lake. 7 sisters travelled here from the coast across country. They stopped here because they were getting weak. They stayed here. It is not good water for drinking from the warla (lake). We drink from the living water nearby. After awhile those sisters kept travelling but while they were there they had a women’s business meeting. All other women came from all over. One old man, Utia, was following them because he wanted to get a wife. When he came out and those women saw him he frightened them all away. He had too much stick.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Kurrkumalu Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 53cm 696/09
Kurrkumalu is a waterhole spring, living water. Kurrkumalu is in the middle with other waterholes around it. Grass and trees grow around the waterholes, which make a good shade to sit in after a long day’s walk.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Warla Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 76 x 53cm 695/09
This is a well on the Canning Stock Route in the Great Sandy Desert. My families used to walk this land many years ago.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Ngapawarlu Atelier Acrylic, 200gsm Fabriano 75 x 53cm 694/09
Ngapawarlu is a big lake along the Canning stock route. This is my country.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Kukupanyu Atelier Artist Acrylic, 250gsm Velin Arches Paper 65 x 50cm 77/13
This is at Kukupanyu when you pass Pingka, which is South East of Kukupanyu. We walked down to this place, there is water there, we have ngurrara, a place to live here.You can reach this place through Kulyayi , to the Big Jila. The old old people get inside. They hide in the water and wait for birds to come, Klig Klig. They grab their legs and throw them, kill them and eat them. Plenty of people have come to this place.
Nyuju Stumpy BROWN
Wirrakuja Derivan Matisse Acrylic - 250gsm Velin BKF Rives 53 x 38cm wp067/96
Long way out near the Canning Stock Route in my country we call it Burrakaburraka country in the Great Sandy Desert. This is jilji (sandhill) country. I came from the Canning Stock Route all the way down to here I walked all that way. I have been working and cooking for them cattle mob, long time ago.
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