AM 17022/19

In this painting Imelda has depicted her mother’s country south of Balgo, in the Great Sandy Desert called Winpurpurla named after a tjurrnu (soakwater). Winpurpurla is a yinta (water on country), it always has good water. Imelda’s mother passed this story on to her. There were three skin groups travelling from south, Nungurrayi, Napanangka, Nangala. They were travelling to Winpurpurla to collect a variety of pura (bush tomato), which when exposed to sun, change to the off white colour in this painting and are ready to harvest. They also came to harvest kantjili (bush raisins), represented by the orange dots. Among the bush tucker are lines of tali (sandhills) which dominate the landscape. The women found water at the second rockhole, and camped the night. They continued travelling to the third rockhole and camped. As the women were travelling to the fourth rockhole they saw the rocky hill that harboured the tjurnu (soakwater). They lit fires to let people know they were coming. The people who were living in Winpurpurla came to them and welcomed them. When the women came near to the tjurnu they stood there singing and then kneeled down near the waters edge. Before the women could drink water the Elders who welcomed them told the women they had to drop stones in the water. Only after they had done this could they enjoy drinking the cool water. They were all happy, singing and making damper from the seeds they had collected, and sharing food. This piece was exhibited in Desert Mob 2019.