Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina) by Saraeva Napangardi Marshall
Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina) by Saraeva Napangardi Marshall 998/23
Acrylic on Canvas, 152 x 61cm
ABORIGINAL DREAMING STORY
Mina Mina Jukurrpa
Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Dreaming) — is associated with Mina Mina lands to the far west of Yuendumu. These lands are significant to the Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. These Dreaming tells of the journey of a group of women travelling to the east gathering food, collecting snake vine and performing ceremonies as they travel.
Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and Napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border. The area has a ‘marluri’ (salt lake or claypan) that is usually dry, without water. There are also a number of ‘mulju’ (soakages), sandhills, and a large stand of ‘kurrkara’ (desert oaks [Allocasuarina decaisneana]). The Mina Mina Jukurrpa is an important source of Warlpiri ritual knowledge and social organization, particularly relating to the different roles performed by men and women.
The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this country are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men, who can depict portions of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa in their paintings. There are a number of different components of the Mina Mina Jukurrpa; artists usually choose to depict one particular aspect. These can include ‘karnta’ (women), ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks), ‘majardi’ (hairstring skirts/tassels), ‘ngalyipi’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina]), ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]), and ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]).
THE ARTWORK
The ancient iconography depicted represents the journey of ancestral women, dancing, digging for food and collecting snakevine.
