220282336340

Published by CompNet Systems on

Waru at Watarru

In this painting, the artist depicts the Waru Tjukurrpa (Fire Dreaming) at Watarru. Watarru is located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands) in the north west of South Australia close to Kanpi, Piplitjara, Maralinga and Ochre Valley. This Tjukurrpa is from the artist’s own country at Watarru.

The Tjukurrpa tells of two Tjangala travelling from Yuendumu, Northern Territory, down South to Watarru, carrying the fire with them. Once they arrived at Watarru, they threw the fire stick on the ground and created a big hole and mountain. The two Tjangalas created everything at Watarru, afterwards they went back to Yuendumu. This is part of a big Tjukurrpa from Yuendumu, called Warlukurlangu.

The two Tjangalas left many Ngangkari (traditional healer) spirits in this place, which all the children hold. The artist often depicts these children sitting down on country with their mothers, surrounded by puli puli (rocks) and kapi (rock holes). 

Categories: Ikuntji Artists

Name: Rosemary Peters

Language: Pitjantjatjara

Community: Fregon

Biography:

Rosemary was born in 1989 in Fregon (Kaltjiti) Community in the APY Lands in South Australia, and has lived there for most of her life. Her parents are both Pitjantjara, which is the language Rosemary primarily speaks. She came to Haast's Bluff to visit and work with her cousin Noreen Dixon, who paints the same Dreaming. She was taught to paint by her maternal grandmother, acclaimed painter Tinpulya Mervyn. Both Tinpulya and her sister Wipana Jimmy are members of the Watarru Collaborative who paint stories from the dreaming at Watarru. Rosemary paints the Waru at Watarru, which tells the story of when two Tjangalas carried fire down to this land. 

Related Posts

Ikuntji Artists

220282372989

Ininti at Muruntji This painting depicts the bush seeds that come from the ininti tree (batwinged coral tree).  The tree is native to the Western Desert of Central Australia, growing in sand around creek beds. Read more…

Ikuntji Artists

22024001520

Status: Stock Puli Puli Bangle Beautiful set of lacquerware bangle is made by Better World Arts, featuring the ‘Puli Puli’ design by Keturah Zimran. Better World Arts  Has been operating for over two decades. They Read more…

Ikuntji Artists

220273312762

Kalinykalinpa Alison has described the honey grevillia, an exquisite flower and good source of bush lolly.

© the artist / art centre