The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are 7 women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa man who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnu and who represents the Orion's Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the 7 Napaljarri sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star). Often depicted in paintings for this Jukurrpa is the female star Yantarlarangi (Venus - the Evening Star) who chases the 7 Napaljarri sisters for having stolen the night.
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"I was born in 1977 in the outback, in Halls Creek in the Kimberley, WA. I grew up there with my family. My father is a Jaru man; his country is Sturt Creek. We would go out bush, camping and fishing. I felt lucky to live in such a beautiful place where you could hear the birds singing, see animals and insects, and enjoy the different colours. This feeling is still with me today. I went to high school in Perth. In 2006, I moved to Wyndham to start a new life with my husband.
We are surrounded by bush and a small creek which flows when it rains. In this beautiful place we feel the luckiest people on Earth. This is where my artistic journey began. This is my country where the rivers and creeks cut through the rugged terrain. The desert has burst into a colourful period of wild bush flowers and abundant bush tucker and relief from the extreme climate in the area" |
On behalf of the Gallery we firstly acknowledge the land now known as Australia belonged to a Nation of People, widely sophisticated, Aboriginal people of Culture, With Gratitude to our Elders past, present and emerging, the Country's ancient Cultural heritage. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
We hope that by sharing the Stories of the Artworks more attention is paid to the land supporting us through the emmense Generational Knowledge of this Country Aboriginal people have. |