CompNet Systems

220282356765

Puli Puli – Rocks

Keturah depicts the puli puli (rocks) at two different sites. She paints the landscapes at Haasts Bluff where she grew up and also at Karrkurrutintja (Lake Mcdonald in Pintupi), located west of Kintore along the Western Australia/Northern Territory border. Karrkurrutintja country is an important site of the Pilkati (snake) Tjukurrpa (dreaming) of Kaniya Kutjarra (two carpet snakes, two brothers, two Tjangalas). This story was passed town to her from her grandmother Narputta Nangala Jugadai, who was born there. Narputta was passed down this story from her father, Talaku Tjampitjinpa. Both Keturah’ss grandmother and mother, Molly Jugadai painted this same country. Narputta was one of the founding members of Ikuntji Artists, and has been painting since the beginning of the desert painting movement in the 1970’s. Keturah’s grandmother and mother have since passed away, with Keturah being the only remaining daughter in this lineage of artist to still be painting this story.

Keturah has been inspired by the painting legacy and tutorage from her grandmother and mother, though has developed a distinctive style over her practice. Keturah uses different colours and hues to depict the ways the puli puli change colours with the weather, especially at sunrise and sunset.

 “The sand hills I paint are my mother’s story and the rocks I paint are my own story. My paintings are about my story and my mother’s… I like to paint; painting helps me forget my troubles. I paint every day. My Grandmother used to say to me when I was younger: “One day you will paint.”

By CompNet Systems, ago

220282359961

Yalka at Karrkurutinytja (Bush onion Dreaming at Lake Macdonald)

Daphne was passed down the right to paint the Yalka Tjukurrpa at Karrkurutinytja (Bush onion dreaming at Lake Macdonald) from her grandmother, Narputta Nangala Jugadai. Narputta, who was a founding member of Ikuntji art centre and a prolific painter, was born close to this sight.

 

Daphne says,

 

 “My grandmother, Narputta used to make that painting. She told me that story. I used to work here (Ikuntji Women’s Centre) as a cook. I came to learn here. I saw my grandma painting. I learnt from her. She told me that story…Yalka…Bush food…For a long time those old ladies have been looking for Yalka, digging for Yalka, taking the fruit, cooking it in the fire. We cook them just a little bit, like Maku (witchetty grub). I have been looking for that Yalka with my grandmother.”

 

Yalka Tjukurrpa, as told by Narputta,

 

“Creek bed at Karrkurutinytja. Two old women, two Nungurrayi, came across from Pulpa and started Gathering bush  onions, putting them into coolamons. They went on a journey west. They approached a group of men and watched them, whilst hiding in the bushed at Pimarrpa (Soakage near Kiwirrkura). There was another lady, Alkiljarra Nakamarra, who came along on their tracks. She saw them where they had gathered bush onions. She became upset that they’d gathered them all up and there were none left. The Nakamarra started walking and came across the creek, where she started collecing mungilpa (a staple seed food for the Pintupi people).  She came across two Tjangalas (Mungilnga and Tiwilgna). Next to them was a rockhole and Atjakalya Nakamarra, who was making damper for them. Mungilnga had the smaller damper. The two Tjangalas ate their damper then she flew off and became a rock there at Kurultu.”

By CompNet Systems, ago

115682366716

Baru Dhawu (Crocodile Story)

Baru (the crocodile man), was from the Gumatj clan. People usually call him Gurdu Gurdu or Baru which means crocodile. He lived his life at a place called Yirrkala. Living near him were other people, and when Baru didn’t have enough to eat he began to kill and eat these other people. After a while others noticed that some people were missing. When Baru went to the toilet, the people could smell this strong smell, so they knew that he ate the other people. Some men went to get help and they took message sticks to the other tribes. Some were sending smoke signals. When they came to Baru’s camp they started to spear him in the left side of his ribs. He dropped into the fire and burnt his left hand and maybe his right hand. He then ran into the bush and yelled to his countrymen – the animals, birds and fish that live on the land and in the sea. He stopped and he named the tribes and clans and also the places until he came to a place called Gamarru/Guyurru. There he took a rest and said to himself “This is where I stop and call this place Gamarru/Guyurru”. Baru, still in pain from the fire, then jumped into the water and turned himself into a crocodile. The fire left scars on his back. Baru paintings belong to Gumatj and Warrawarra and also the Marpi clan. This painting is used at death ceremonies or initiations and it normally is painted on the belly, which means the person the design is painted on is part of Gurdu Gurdu (the crocodile people).

By CompNet Systems, ago

220982367566

Alana Ngwarraye Holmes – Wild Flowers

Out in the plain after the rain the wild flowers grow and bloom, I see these flowers on my mother’s country.

The plant has pretty flowers, we take them home and show them to the children. They are a beautiful purple, yellow and pink colour.

By CompNet Systems, ago

115682367464

Baru Dhawu (Crocodile Story)

Baru (the crocodile man), was from the Gumatj clan. People usually call him Gurdu Gurdu or Baru which means crocodile. He lived his life at a place called Yirrkala. Living near him were other people, and when Baru didn’t have enough to eat he began to kill and eat these other people. After a while others noticed that some people were missing. When Baru went to the toilet, the people could smell this strong smell, so they knew that he ate the other people. Some men went to get help and they took message sticks to the other tribes. Some were sending smoke signals. When they came to Baru’s camp they started to spear him in the left side of his ribs. He dropped into the fire and burnt his left hand and maybe his right hand. He then ran into the bush and yelled to his countrymen – the animals, birds and fish that live on the land and in the sea. He stopped and he named the tribes and clans and also the places until he came to a place called Gamarru/Guyurru. There he took a rest and said to himself “This is where I stop and call this place Gamarru/Guyurru”. Baru, still in pain from the fire, then jumped into the water and turned himself into a crocodile. The fire left scars on his back. Baru paintings belong to Gumatj and Warrawarra and also the Marpi clan. This painting is used at death ceremonies or initiations and it normally is painted on the belly, which means the person the design is painted on is part of Gurdu Gurdu (the crocodile people).

By CompNet Systems, ago

115682367463

JB Fisher – Mewal

This painting is about the story of the rock Mewal, that is the embodiment of the spirit man Mokuy who created the honey men/sugar bag tribe. In the story, Mokuy runs away from from a burning grass fire and to escape he turns into the special curved shape rock that is just outside Ramingining. In this painting people are singing and dancing to Mewal around a special tree. It is a ceremony day. People are also collecting Yams (Pitarro) a bush tucker vegetable that is black on the outside and white on the inside.

This is JB Fisher’s story from his country in the heritage listed Arafura Wetlands in North East Arnhem Land. He has inherited this story from his Father, and his Fathers Father, and this story goes back forever. As long as the Yolngu people have been here.

 

By CompNet Systems, ago

115682367907

Lungurrma (North-east Wind)

Lungurrma (North-east Wind) heralds the new season when seas are calm and new growth starts. The months for this type of wind are October to December. There are big clouds without thunder or rain. The triangular patterning represents monsoon clouds ‘standing up’ on the northern horizon. The Lunggurrma design belongs to the Yirritja moiety clans linked to this design are known as the ‘line of clouds’ clans

By CompNet Systems, ago

220282368281

Tali at Kungkayunti

This painting shows the birds eye view of the tali tali (sandhills) at Kungkayunti (Brown’s Bore). This is the country of Joe Tjakamarra Multa, the father of Douglas Multa, Agnes Multa, Lisa Multa, Alison Multa, Rephina Multa, Benita Multa and Patricia Multa and the grandfather to their children. The tali tali are a short walk from where the family lived and the children of Joe grew up.

Lisa remembers walking up the tali tali with her sister, Agnes Multa, who was the same age as her. When Lisa got married she brought her partner to see those tali tali. From the tali tali, a 360-degree view can be seen of the surrounding country. The area is abundant with bush tucker, especially bush tomatoes and bush banana.

Kungkayunti is an important place for the travelling Tjukurrpa of the ancestral Arrernte women who travelled 600 kms from Ntaria (Hermannsburg) to Kintore, past Kulpitarra (Outstation) to attend to women’s business. Kungkayunti is the place where the women first camped. On their long journey, the women stopped at Kunkayunti (Brown’s Bore) to camp, rest, eat and dance. When the women reached their destination, they danced, shared their stories and renewed their law. Those women turned into stone and can be seen today. Annual events continue today to strengthen this Tjukurrpa.

By CompNet Systems, ago

220282368273

Pikilyi (Vaughn Springs)

This painting shows Pikilyi (Vaughn Springs) west of Yuendumu. This is Erin’s grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s country. The designs show the skin groups of the Tjapanangkas and the Tjapangardis. The designs represent Pikilyi.

By CompNet Systems, ago