Julie Nangala Robertson, Pirlinyanu 2011, 61x61cm

Julie Nangala Robertson – Pirlinyanu (2011)

Julie Nangala Robertson, winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting Category, presents Pirlinyanu (2011), a striking depiction of Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming). This story is deeply connected to her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu near the Western Australia border.

Pirlinyanu, meaning "stone," is a significant site for Water Dreaming, known for its deep rockholes that store precious water, ensuring survival even during prolonged dry seasons. The knowledge of these hidden water sources has been passed down through generations, playing a vital role in Warlpiri culture.

In Pirlinyanu (2011), Julie Nangala Robertson captures the movement of rain as it falls upon the rocky outcrop, flowing into the rockholes. The artwork is set against a vibrant red background, symbolising the desert landscape and the energy of the elements. Through intricate patterns, she conveys the rhythmic motion of water, an essential force in the arid environment of the Tanami Desert.

The eldest of five daughters of renowned artist Dorothy Napangardi, Julie recently adjusted the spelling of her surname to Robertson, aligning it with her relatives in Yuendumu. Her father, Windy Robertson, had originally spelled it as "Robinson," though most of her extended family carries the Robertson name.

This artwork is a powerful testament to Julie Nangala Robertson’s ability to translate cultural stories into visual form, reinforcing her status as an important figure in contemporary Indigenous Australian art.