Shorty Jangala Robertson

Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) - Puyurru - SJRWU1191/05

Size: H-76 X W-152 cm.
Medium: Acrylic on Linen
SOLD
Product No: SJRWU1191/05
The site depicted in this painting is Puyurru, west of Yuendumu. In the usually dry creek beds are water soakages or naturally occurring wells. Two Jangala men, rainmakers, sang the rain, unleashing a giant storm. It travelled across the country, with the lightning striking the land. This storm met up with another storm from Wapurtali, to the west, was picked up by a 'kirrkarlan' (brown falcon [Falco berigora]) and carried further west until it dropped the storm at Purlungyanu, where it created a giant soakage. At Puyurru the bird dug up a giant snake, Wanayarra, the snake carried water with it that created a giant lake, Jillyiumpa. There is an outstation there that Shorty's family lives at today. In this painting the artist has used straight lines to represent he ngawarra (flood waters) running through the landscape, and the bars joining the long lines represent mangkurdu (clouds).