Jungunpa (Marsupial Mouse) 2005 by Polly Napangardi Watson 91x122cm

Jungunpa (Marsupial Mouse) Dreaming 2005 by Polly Napangardi Watson 91x122cm

Polly Napangardi Watson was a pioneering Warlpiri artist, renowned for her innovative contributions to Aboriginal art. In the 1980s, while residing in Alice Springs, she, along with contemporaries such as Dorothy Napangardi, Pansy Napangardi, and Rachel Jurra Napaltjarri, attended a literacy course at the Institute of Aboriginal Development (IAD). It was here that they were introduced to painting. Encouraged by mentors, they continued their artistic pursuits at the government-supported Centre for Aboriginal Artists, achieving significant success.

Polly was known for her delicate approach to dot painting and was among the first artists to experiment with overdotting, a technique that added depth and perspective to her work. Following the closure of the government gallery in 1990, she began painting for Gallery Gondwana, where she became one of their most successful artists. Tragically, Polly has since passed away, leaving behind a legacy of inventive and dynamic artworks that stand apart from others in the Yuendumu region. Her painting career, which began in 1987, saw her emerge as a significant figure in the art world.

One of her notable works is "Jungunpa (Marsupial Mouse) 2005." This painting offers an aerial perspective of the countryside, capturing the surrounding landscape's rocky outcrops, spinifex grass, and wildflowers. Concentric circles depict the underground burrows, while large white dots represent the tracks taken by the marsupial mouse, known as Jungunpa to the Warlpiri people, as it emerges at night to feed. The Jungunpa is a small nocturnal mammal that lives in underground burrows and is widely sought after by Aboriginal people as a food source. A significant site associated with the Jungunpa Dreaming is Mount Doreen, Polly's birthplace, located west of Yuendumu and approximately 350 km northwest of Alice Springs.

The custodians of this Dreaming and site are women of the Napangardi/Napanangka skin group (aunt/niece). To this day, aunts (father's sisters) instruct young women in cultural and ceremonial knowledge in strict accordance with traditional law.

Polly Napangardi Watson's contributions to Aboriginal art have left an indelible mark, inspiring future generations of artists and preserving the rich cultural narratives of the Warlpiri people.