The Windmill & The Medicine Men, 2007

136 x 201 cm

Est. $7,000 – $9,000

Hammer $5,200

Provenance: Painted for Greg Willock, Alice Springs, 2007 Art Mob, Tas, Cat No. AM 4968/07 Private Collection, Tas
Artwork story: Linda was born in the Gibson Desert at Lake MacKay, in 1937. At the age of eight, she walked out of the desert all the way to Haasts Bluff on foot with her family and her step-father, Shorty Lungkata Tjungarrayi. Walking behind them was the 'skinny old man' the Walpiri witch doctor. When they got to Mount Liebig, they saw a windmill. At first, the family was frightened but Shorty knew what it was because he had been working for the Army during the war. He explained to them that this whirling thing was harmless and was used for making water, so it was alright. Later, the old witch doctor caught up with them but was so tired from walking that he fell down, and went to sleep without seeing the windmill. When he woke up, he rubbed his eyes and saw the noisy apparition standing before him. He began shouting 'Mamu Mamu!! this is a devil spirit, come to kill us!' He started throwing his spears at it and, but they bounced off with no effect. He then threw some magic stones at it, but nothing happened. The poor old man then fell sobbing to the ground until Shorty came to his side and told him not to worry that this was a good thing, made by white fellas to get water out of the ground. He showed him the pool of water at the base of the windmill and finally got the old man to drink.

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Sale 1 · Lot 78

c.1937 – 2021

136 x 201 cm

Est. $7,000 – $9,000

Hammer $5,200

Provenance: Painted for Greg Willock, Alice Springs, 2007 Art Mob, Tas, Cat No. AM 4968/07 Private Collection, Tas
Artwork story: Linda was born in the Gibson Desert at Lake MacKay, in 1937. At the age of eight, she walked out of the desert all the way to Haasts Bluff on foot with her family and her step-father, Shorty Lungkata Tjungarrayi. Walking behind them was the 'skinny old man' the Walpiri witch doctor. When they got to Mount Liebig, they saw a windmill. At first, the family was frightened but Shorty knew what it was because he had been working for the Army during the war. He explained to them that this whirling thing was harmless and was used for making water, so it was alright. Later, the old witch doctor caught up with them but was so tired from walking that he fell down, and went to sleep without seeing the windmill. When he woke up, he rubbed his eyes and saw the noisy apparition standing before him. He began shouting 'Mamu Mamu!! this is a devil spirit, come to kill us!' He started throwing his spears at it and, but they bounced off with no effect. He then threw some magic stones at it, but nothing happened. The poor old man then fell sobbing to the ground until Shorty came to his side and told him not to worry that this was a good thing, made by white fellas to get water out of the ground. He showed him the pool of water at the base of the windmill and finally got the old man to drink.