MYLILILI, 2006
PATRICK TJUNGURRAYI
synthetic polymer paint on linen
182.0 x 242.5 cm
bears inscription verso: artist’s name, size and Papunya Tula Artists cat. PT0604033
Painted at Kiwirrkura in 2006
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs
The Luczo Family Collection, USA
This painting is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Papunya Tula Artists that states: ‘This painting depicts designs associated with the site of Mylilili, near Jupiter Well and west of the Kiwirrkurra community in Western Australia. In mythological times a large group of ancestral Tingari Men camped at this site before travelling south-east to Ngarru. At Ngarru the men performed the dances and sang the songs associated with the area.
Upon completion of the ceremonies at Ngarru the men continued their travels north-east toward Kiwirrkura, eventually reaching Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) via another lake site known as Pinari.
As the men travelled they drank from various water sources found amongst the rocky outcrops. These rockholes and soakages are represented by the concentric squares running through the middle of the painting. The jagged lines represent rain making designs that were painted onto men’s bodies for ceremonial purposes.’