NGURA NGARUTJARA, 2013
IYAWI WIKILYIRI
synthetic polymer paint on linen
200.0 x 200.0 cm
bears inscription verso: artist's name, date and Tjungu Palya Artists cat. 13307
Tjungu Palya Artists, Nyapari, South Australia
Vivian Anderson Gallery, Melbourne (stamp on stretcher bar verso)
Private collection, Melbourne, acquired from the above in November 2013
Minymaku Ara - Women's Way, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, 13 November - 14 December 2013, cat. 2
This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Tjungu Palya which states: ‘Ngura Ngarutjara, a place near Ernabella. Tjukula Tjuta (many waterholes), this is the Wanampi’s ngura (water-snakes’s home). There are two Wanampi. They are dangerous snakes; you can’t go near the Wanampi. There is a male and female Wanampu. The Wanampi have water all around them, always surrounded by water. The green water is everywhere.
There’s a big pumu (tree) near the water, the roots go right into the water. There’s another tree nearby. This tree is for the women to make the wana (digging stick) for getting goanna and rabbit and other foods. The lines there, coming out of the water, they are Tjuna-tjuna (reeds). Tjuna-tjuna Tjuta (many reeds) near and in the water.’