Judy Napangardi Watson

The country associated with this painting is Mina Mina, a place far west of Yuendumu, significant to Napangardi/Napanangka women who, along with their classificatory Japangardi/Japanangka brothers, are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. This Dreaming describes the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east gathering food, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine [Tinospora smilacina]) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them eventually beyond Warlpiri country. The women used the ‘karlangu’ to collect bush tucker on their travels. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. The main motif uses in paintings of these Dreaming are the ‘karlangu’, which rose up out of the ground at Mina Mina.