Mikuntji - Tilau's Fathers Country by Tilau Nangala, 40x61cm Cat 13757TN

Mikantji - Tilau's Fathers Country by Tilau Nangala depicts a water dreaming site to the west of Yuendumu. The circle in the centre represents the waterhole. The radiating lines represent the water travelling over the landscape into the central waterhole. The dots show both the spinifex and the water travelling into the soil.

This painting, in soft ochre tones has beautiful movement, showing the intensity of lightning occuring, rain falling and flowing into the creek.

Tilau Nangala was born in 1933 in the bush at what is now known as Haasts Bluff of Ngaliya parents. She grew up around Haasts Bluff speaking Warlpiri and Luritja and then moved to Papunya where she had 5 children.

The great Water Dreaming site of Mikantji (occasionally spelt phonetically as Makuntji) is nearly always Tilau subject. This is an important Rain Dreaming belonging to those of the Jangala/Nangala and Jampijinpa/Nampijinpa subsection kinship (skin) groups. Rosie Nangala, a senior law woman who lived primarily in Yuendumu was her sister and also painted this dreaming story and both sisters were keen to ensure their cultural knowledge was passed onto future generations. Traditionally, this knowledge is passed on from auntie (father's sister) to niece.

Provenance is Papunya Tjupi Arts #613-08