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 painting depicts the Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming)
from Warntungurru, west of Yuendumu. 'Pamapardu' is the Warlpiri
name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found
throughout Warlpiri country. This country belongs to
Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men.
"Pamapardu' are flying ants. They build earth mounds ('mingkirri") that
are common in the Tanami area. When heavy rains come in summer the
'mingkirri" get flooded out, so the 'pamapardu' grow wings and fly off to
make new homes, following their queens to dry mounds or to build a
new. When they have found their new home they drop their wings. In
this stage they can be collected, lightly cooked in coals and eaten. As
they fall to the ground women collect them to eat because they are nice
and sweet. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is
used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements.
When this Jukurrpa story is painted concentric circles are used to
represent the 'mingkirri' and the rockholes involved in the story,
including the central one at Wapurtali (Mt Singleton). Dashes are often
depicted around the circles to represent the 'pamapardu'.