Description
This painting tells the story of a Jangala ‘watiya-warnu’
(Acacia tenuissima) ancestor who travelled south from a
small hill called Ngurlupurranyangu to Yamunturrngu
(Mount Liebig). As he travelled he picked the ‘watiya-warnu’
seeds and placed them in ‘parrajas’ (food carriers), one of
which he carried on his head. Watiya-warnu is a seed
bearing tree that grows in open spinifex or mulga country.
When people returned to their camp after collecting the
seeds they would make large windbreaks for shelter and
winnow the seed in the late afternoon. Immature ‘watiyawarnu’
seed is ground into a paste and can be used to treat
upset stomachs. The associated ‘watiya-warnu’ ceremony
involves the preparation of a large ground painting. This
Jukurrpa belongs to Nampijinpa/Nangala women and
Jampijinpa/Jangala men. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings
traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa,
particular sites and other elements. In paintings of this
Dreaming ‘U’ shapes are often depicting women collecting
the ‘watiya-warnu’ seeds. Oval shapes represent the
‘parrajas’ where they carry the seeds and strait lines beside
them frequently portrait digging sticks.
