Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming)- Pirlinyarnu - Julie Nangala Robertson
Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming)- Pirlinyarnu - Julie Nangala Robertson
Acrylic on Belgian linen, 152 x 76cm, 781/22
Unstretched canvas $4142
Stretched canvas $4600
This beautiful piece depicts the Water Dreaming at Pirlinyarnu (Mt. Farewell), west of Yuendumu. It tells the story of two Jangala men, rainmakers, sang the rain, unleashing a giant storm, that collided with another storm from Wapurtali at Mirawarri.
A 'kirrkarlanji' (brown falcon) carried the storm further west from Mirawarri.
The storm eventually got too heavy for the falcon. It dropped the water at Pirlinyarnu, where it formed an enormous 'malaria' (clay pan).
In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to represent the 'Jukurrpa' (Dreaming). Short dashes are often used to represent 'mangkurdu' (cumulus and stratocumulus clouds), and longer, flowing lines represent 'ngawarra' (flood waters). Small circles are to depict 'mulju' (soakages) and river beds.
