Women Digging for Honey Ants Women planning their dig for Honey Ants. Honey Ants hang from the ceiling of chambers their family dig out of the earth. The tunnels into the chambers are long and complex. That means the Honey Ants have to be tracked, and then the women use Read more…
My Grandmother’s Country This painting is about Maureen’s grandmother’s country in the Gibson Desert near Kulkurta, Central Australia. Her mother and siblings were all born here so Maureen feels a strong connection to this part of the lands. There are many water holes in the desert which become important landmarks Read more…
Walu Rockhole Dreaming, Emu Heart, The Boy Who Tur This painting depicts a story from the Walu rockhole. There were two men and one little boy camping at the rockhole. The men went hunting and the little boy stayed. The men returned with an emu and pulled out its heart. Read more…
Watiyawarnu Women collecting Watiyawarnu (Acacia tenuissima). Back at camp after collecting the seeds they make large windbreaks for shelter and winnow the seed in the late afternoon. Immature watiyawarnu seed is ground into a paste and can be used to treat upset stomachs. There is an important ceremony for this Read more…
Gumang (Magpie Geese) The Yolngu people of Arnhem Land originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular place in their land or the sea. These ‘Spiritual Reservoirs’ are often in the form of special waterholes made by Wangarr (Creative Beings) long ago close to the beginning of time. The Read more…
Wardapi Jukurrpa ‘This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs Read more…
Nyungawarra Patjarr I am painting Yankuntjuntju. It is my grandmother’s country, close to Patjarr. There’s a rockhole close. I like to paint my story, my grandfather’s, my grandmother’s. My father’s mother passed away at that rockhole, that is why I’m painting. My grandmother had two sons, two daughters. [She] passed Read more…
Pura Pura. We call him Pura. Bush Tomato (Solanum chippendalei) you call him. Got lot of little black seed… got to dig him out and throw away. Rubbish one, that seed. We use punu, a little tool from wood. He is called Karriti.
View Of Country This shows the layered landscape of Alyawarr, Central Australia. Knowing your country is an important part of living in a remote community like Ampilatwatja. Knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, knowing where there is ‘soakage’ (where you can dig for water), travelling with family Read more…
Ganalbingu – Banda (Long Necked Turtle) The long necked turtle is a dreaming totem for the freshwater people, the Ganalbingu, whose country includes the World Heritage listed, Arafura Wetlands in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory The Yolngu (people) of Arnhem Land originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular Read more…