PILTATI, 2006

Important Aboriginal + Oceanic Art
Melbourne
4 April 2012
42

EILEEN YARITJA STEVENS

(c.1915 - 2008)
PILTATI, 2006

synthetic polymer paint on canvas

200.0 x 201.0 cm

inscribed verso: artist's name, date and Tjunga Palya Artists cat. TPEYS06227

Estimate: 
$22,000 - 32,000
Provenance

Tjungu Palya Artists, South Australia
Private collection, Melbourne

Catalogue text

This painting is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tjungu Palya which states: 'Wati wanampi kutjara munu kunga kutjara ninanya (the two snake men were sitting with the two girls). The sisters whose names are Wanyinta and Alartjatjarra, went out each day to dig for mai and kuka (bush foods and meat). The men sat inside the cave painting sacred designs on the walls or making spears or having Inma (sacred singing and dancing). Each day the women returned with the food. One day the sisters decided to eat the food themselves. The brothers were really angry at the women for eating all the food and said “we might turn ourselves into spirit birds and trick the two sisters.” They talked about their idea for a long time and finally agreed to turn into wanampi (giant water serpents).'