Acrylic on linen

Signed certificate of authenticity.

This artwork will be on display at the exhibition 'Echoes of Tradition' at Bluethumb's Melbourne gallery from June 28th - August 14th.

This Yarla Jukurrpa belongs to men of the Japaljarri/Jungarrayi
subsections and to Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. It comes from an area
to the east of Yuendumu called Cockatoo Creek. 'Yarla' (bush potato
[pomea costata]) are fibrous tubers that grow beneath a low spreading
plant, found by looking for cracks in the ground. This edible tuber grows
from 'yartura' (roots) which seek out moisture to spout new plants. Yarla
are good to eat, when cooked they are really soft and tasty. The
Jukurrpa tells of 'yarla' and wapirti' (bush carrot [Vigna lanceolata])
ancestors fighting a big battle in this area. The specific site associated
with this painting is a 'mulju' (water soakage) called Ngarparapunyu. In
contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to
represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. The curved
lines of the kuruwarri' (ceremonial designs) represent the 'ngamarna'
(vine-like tendrils) from which grow 'jinjirla' (flowers). "Karlangu' (digging
sticks) are usually represented as straight lines. 'Karlangu'are used by
women to dig for bush tucker like Yarla and Wapirti which are found
underground.