MINYMA KUTJARA (TWO SISTERS DREAMING), 2006

The Collection of William and Lucy Mora
Melbourne
21 July 2010
61

Kuntjil Cooper

(c.1920 - 2010)
MINYMA KUTJARA (TWO SISTERS DREAMING), 2006

synthetic polymer paint on linen

98.0 x 136.0 cm

inscribed verso: artist's name, size, Irrunytju Arts cat. EN0604243

Estimate: 
$8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $9,600 (inc. BP) in Auction 15 - 21 July 2010, Melbourne
Provenance

Irrunytju Arts, Western Australia
Private collection, New South Wales

Catalogue text

This is Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa (Two Sisters Dreaming). The two sisters were travelling back to their homeland. A long time ago the little sister was separated from her family by a big wind. She grew up with family that weren't her own. Ngaltutjara. The big sister found her little sister and was bringing her back teaching her Inma (sacred singing and dancing). They camped at Ultju Kulpi. At Punti rockhole, the two ladies were dancing, having Inma, when a Wili Wili (wind) came chasing them. They got frightened and quickly went to Tjanpitjara. There's a really big rockhole there. After that they went to Docker River. The big sister gave the little sister a piggy back.

Kuntjil Cooper was born at Irrunytju rockhole sometime around 1920. She spent her early years living a traditional life in the bush of the Western Desert. When she was a teenager she saw whitefellas for the first time. They gave her food, but she thought it was strange stuff, and only pretended to eat it, really burying it in the sand.