Pirlinyanu (2004) by Julie Nangala Robertson, 91x91cm, Cat 8563

In this painting, Julie depicts Ngapa Jukurrpa (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.

This rocky country with its significant waterholes and plentiful bush tucker is one of many locations for the "Water Dreaming". For those with the knowledge of this desert landscape, if you know which rocks to move you always have access to fresh water in the deep natural occurring wells of Pirlinyanu.

Painting from an aerial perspective and using a reduced palette of colours, Julie applies her dots to give shapes and movement to her depiction of the landscape and her dreaming.

Julie was awarded Best Painting category in the Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in 2023.

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.