Click to enlargeJudy Napangardi Watson
c.1925 – 2016
- Region
- Central Desert & Tanami
- Community
- Yuendumu
- Language group
- Warlpiri
Mina Mina, 2014
synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen
193 x 94 cm
Price on application — enquire
- Provenance
- Palya Proper Fine Art, Alice Springs, NT
Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, NSW
- Artwork story
- The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women, the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled.
The women began their journey at Mina Mina where Karla-ngu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country. The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (Desert Oak) trees. Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses, including as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry Parrajas (wooden bowls) laden with bush tucker and as a torniquet for headaches.