Paintings from Yuendumu

Yuendumu paintings are well known for their bright colours and complex, interwoven patterns. The community lies 280 kilometres north west of Alice Springs along the red, dusty Tanami Track and has approximately 1000 mainly Warlpiri speaking residents.

Brief biographical details of many of the artists are available on the Yuendumu biographies page and more information is available on our page about the Yuendumu Community.

In the descriptions below there are repeated references to "skin names" such as Napaljarri, Nungarrayi, Jupurrula and Jakamarra - for an explanation of these names, see the page on Aboriginal art and society.

The prices below are in Australian dollars and do not include packing, shipping and insurance - use the "Enquire" button to confirm availability of a painting and the cost of shipping. To check the equivalent price in other currencies, use the Currency Conversion link. For more details about shopping, see our Shopping and online security section. All of the paintings below are unstretched.

Nancy Napanangka Gibson

Title:	Wurrpadi Jukurrpa
Price:	$950.00 in Australia and Export.
PA806, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
76 x 91 cm

The Wurrpadi Jukurrpa (spear-tree Dreaming) is from Yilyanpurru, to the north of Willowra. The spear-tree grows in the sandhill country near to Yinapaka (Lake Surprise). The wood from this tree is flexible and excellent for spear-making. It is said that the wound that a ‘wurrpadi’ spear make is poisoned. It is also said that the ‘wurrpadi’ lies horizontal in the early morning and when the sun comes up it straightens and stands erect. Then, in the late afternoon it bends over again. In paintings of the ‘wurrpadi’ Jukurrpa concentric circles are used to depict the trees and smaller half-moon shapes are used to represent the seed pods of the ‘wurrpadi’ tree

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Bessie Nakamarra Sims

Title:	Ngarlajiyi Jukurrpa
Price:	$1700.00 in Australia and Export.
PA821, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
76 x 107 cm

Ngarlajiyi is a tiny plant found growing on the side of creeks and in sandy soils and commonly called a bush carrot or small yam. It has a small edible tuber resembling a carrot. The country associated with this Dreaming is Waputarli or Mount Singleton, to the west of Yuendumu. The design of this painting symbolizes the cycle of growth of ‘ngarlajiyi’, telling how after the rain the plant grows quickly and extensively, spreading out over the country. Concentric circles are often used to represent the plants with ‘ngarlajiyi’ fruit, while large concentric circles often represent Yilkirdi, a rockhole in the Waputarli area belonging to the same Dreaming. These large concentric circles can also depict the base of the ‘ngarlajiyi’ plant with its superficial roots extending in the direction of the Dreaming, represented by radiating lines. Clusters depicted in the extreme of these radiating lines usually are portraying the bush carrot ‘jinjila’ (flowers).

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Shorty Jangala Robertson

Title:	Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming)
Price:	$2550.00 in Australia and Export.
PA823, 2009
Acrylic on linen
76 x 76 cm

The site depicted is Puyurru, west of Yuendumu. In the usually dry creek beds are water soakages or naturally occurring wells. Two Jangala men, rainmakers, sang the rain, unleashing a giant storm. It travelled across the country, with the lightning striking the land. This storm met up with another storm from Wapurtali, to the west, was picked up by a ‘kirrkarlan’ (brown falcon) and carried further west until it dropped the storm at Purlungyanu, where it created a giant soakage. At Puyurru the bird dug up a giant snake, ‘warnayarra’ (the ‘rainbow serpent’) and the snake carried water to create the large lake, Jillyiumpa, close to an outstation in this country. In many paintings of this Jukurrpa curved and straight lines represent the ‘ngawarra’ (flood waters) running through the landscape. Motifs frequently used to depict this story include small circles representing ‘mulju’ (water soakages) and short bars depicting ‘mangkurdu’ (clouds).

Quantity

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Bessie Nakamarra Sims

Title:	Janganpa Jukurrpa (Brush-tailed Possum Dreaming)
Price:	$1550.00 in Australia and Export.
PA814, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
61 x 122 cm

This painting shows the Janganpa Jukurrpa (common brush-tail possum Dreaming). ‘Janganpa’ are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of white gum trees (‘wapunungka’). A common ‘janganpa’ story is about a ‘janganpa’ ancestor who travelled all over the Warlpiri lands visiting various sites during the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime), including one site called Jangankurlangu, meaning literally ‘belonging to possum’. The ‘janganpa’ men carry their hunting weapons as they move around the country, wearing ‘majardi’ (hair string skirts). ‘Janganpa’ were once frequently found across much of Warlpiri and neighbouring country but have become extinct in recent years. It is speculated that this extinction may be due to feral cat predation and the changes to their habitat caused by the introduction of cattle and other feral animals. The ‘janganpa’ is considered good meat for ‘yapa’ (Warlpiri people). In traditional Warlpiri iconography wavy lines and 'E' shapes are used to depict the tracks that the ‘janganpa’ left as he moved around.

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Alma Nungarrayi Granites

Title:	Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming)
Price:	$900.00 in Australia and Export.
PA825, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 91 cm

Yanjirlypirri is the Warlpiri name for stars and also a small hill to the west of Yuendumu, where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importance of this place cannot be overemphasized as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjanjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu to the north. This painting tells of the journey of Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri, and then on to Lake Mackay on the West Australian border. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiation ceremonies) for young men. Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women also danced for the ‘kurdiji’. During the performance of this ceremony the men wear ‘jinjirla’ (white feather headdresses) on either side of their heads. They also wear wooden carvings of stars which are also laid out on the ground as part of the sand paintings produced for business. ‘Ngalyipi’ (snake vine), is often depicted as long curved lines and is used to tie ‘witi’ (ceremonial spears) vertically to the shins of the dancing initiates. These ‘witi’ are typically shown as long straight lines and the ‘yanjirlpirri’ (stars) are usually depicted as white circles or roundels.

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Shorty Jangala Robertson

Title:	Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming)
Price:	$800.00 in Australia and Export.
PA826, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 61 cm

The site depicted in this painting is Puyurru, west of Yuendumu. In the usually dry creek beds are water soakages or naturally occurring wells. Two Jangala men, rainmakers, sang the rain, unleashing a giant storm. It travelled across the country, with the lightning striking the land. This storm met up with another storm from Wapurtali, to the west, was picked up by a ‘kirrkarlan’ (brown falcon) and carried further west until it dropped the storm at Purlungyanu, where it created a giant soakage. At Puyurru the bird dug up a giant snake, ‘warnayarra’ (the ‘rainbow serpent’) and the snake carried water to create the large lake, Jillyiumpa, close to an outstation in this country. In many paintings of this Jukurrpa curved and straight lines represent the ‘ngawarra’ (flood waters) running through the landscape. Motifs frequently used to depict this story include small circles representing ‘mulju’ (water soakages) and short bars depicting ‘mangkurdu’ (clouds).

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Judith Napangardi Hargraves

Title:	Ngalyipi Jukurrpa
Price:	$650.00 in Australia and Export.
PA819, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 107 cm

The country associated with this Ngalyipi (snake vine) Jukurrpa is at Yanjirlpiri (Mt. Nicker) to the west of Yuendumu. ‘Ngalyipi’ is a green creeper which curls its tendrils around the trunks and branches of trees and has many uses. Traditionally it was used as a strap to carry ‘parraja’ (wooden food carrying dishes), as a cure for headaches (it was wrapped very tightly around the head), as a rope and as a ceremonial wrap during the ‘witi’ ceremony for the initiation of the sons and grandsons of the Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. ‘Ngalypi’ was also used to tie ‘witi’ (ceremonial) poles to the legs of the young initiates. The women danced and sang at the ceremony and then had to look away and block their ears when the men danced. The ‘witi’ ceremony happened at night under the stars.

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55

Bessie Nakamarra Sims

Title:	Ngarlajiyi Jukurrpa (Bush Carrot Dreaming)
Price:	$1000.00 in Australia and Export.
PA813, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
61 x 122 cm

Ngarlajiyi is a tiny plant found growing on the side of creeks and in sandy soils and commonly called a bush carrot or small yam. It has a small edible tuber resembling a carrot. The country associated with this Dreaming is Waputarli or Mount Singleton, to the west of Yuendumu. The design of this painting symbolizes the cycle of growth of ‘ngarlajiyi’, telling how after the rain the plant grows quickly and extensively, spreading out over the country. This design is taken from women's ceremonial body painting. Concentric circles are often used to represent the plants with ‘ngarlajiyi’ fruit, while large concentric circles often represent Yilkirdi, a rockhole in the Waputarli area belonging to the same Dreaming. These large concentric circles can also depict the base of the ‘ngarlajiyi’ plant with its superficial roots extending in the direction of the Dreaming, represented by radiating lines. Clusters depicted in the extreme of these radiating lines usually are portraying the bush carrot ‘jinjila’

Delivery Costs for this item
Australia	$22
North America	$55
Europe	$55