Pirlinyanu 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson 122x91cm

"Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming, 2011" by Julie Nangala Robertson captures an important Water Dreaming (Ngapa Jukurrpa) site in the Tanami Desert. Julie, the eldest daughter of the highly acclaimed artist Dorothy Napangardi, has followed in her mother's footsteps, earning the prestigious Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting category in August 2023.

This painting depicts the rocky outcrop known as Pirlinyanu, located west of Yuendumu towards the Western Australia border. This significant site, belonging to the Nangala/Jangala and Nampitjinpa/Jampijinpa kinship groups (skin), provides fresh drinking water year-round.

Pirlinyanu holds many powerful stories, including a love story about a virile man searching for his beloved. The rocky outcrop's natural wells offer crucial water sources, accessible to those with traditional knowledge of which rocks to move.

Julie’s artwork uses an aerial perspective and a distinctive monochromatic palette to achieve extraordinary optical brilliance. Her technique involves alternating dot sizes and building specific shapes and reference points through repeated overdotting, creating a dynamic and intricate representation of this sacred site.