Julie Nangala Robertson, Pirlinyanu 2011, 61x61cm

Julie Nangala Robertson, winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in Best Painting Category, depicts her Ngapa Jukurrp a (Water Dreaming), which is associated with her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and towards the WA border.

Pirlinyanu, which translates to 'stone' is an important site for the Water Dreaming as it has many deep rockholes that keep the life giving source of water. The passing of traditional knowledge teaches the location of deep rock holes here that contain valuable water even during dry times.

In this painting, Julie has painted the movement of rain falling on the rocky outcrop and the rock holes.

The eldest of the five daughters of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson has recently changed the spelling of her surname to Robertson, feeling that her father, Windy, had misspelt it as Julie's other relatives in Yuendumu are all Robertson. Windy had two wives, Rene Robinson and Dorothy Robinson.