Mina Mina, 1999 by Dorothy Napangardi, 41x51cm

Mina Mina, 1999 by Dorothy Napangardi – A Journney into Ancestral Country

Mina Mina, 1999, by acclaimed Warlpiri artist Dorothy Napangardi, is a striking early work that pays homage to her father’s country. This mesmerising painting embodies her signature dotting technique, dynamically mapping the ceremonial site of Mina Mina —a sacred Dreaming place associated with women’s journeys and the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime).

The artwork beautifully references the rain and salt formations, motifs frequently found in Napangardi’s broader body of work inspired by rain, plants, and food sources. The intricate layering of dots mirrors the salt crustations that form as water evaporates from the clay-pans of Mina Mina, a landscape deeply embedded in Warlpiri culture. The interplay of white and earthy tones captures the textured desert topography, symbolising the ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.

As a custodial site, Mina Mina holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, with the patrilineal Dreaming structure shaping how knowledge is shared. Napangardi’s father and his sisters played a crucial role in teaching her these stories, reinforcing the importance of aunt-niece relationships in preserving Warlpiri traditions.

Having lived a nomadic lifestyle near Lake Mackay, Napangardi developed a keen eye for tracking and hunting, which profoundly influenced her art. In Mina Mina, 1999, various colours and patterns depict lizard and small mammal tracks, essential food sources for Western Desert communities. This deep connection to Country is a hallmark of Napangardi’s work, which has earned global recognition for its sophisticated abstraction and storytelling.

This piece is featured on page 46 in the monograph: Honouring and Remembering the Art and Life of Dorothy Napangardi, 1987-2013 , cementing her legacy as one of the most significant figures in contemporary Indigenous Australian art.