Pirlinyanu, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson, 152x76cm Cat 14209JR

Using an aerial perspective and distinctive monochromatic palette, Julie’s paintings have become works of extraordinary optical brilliance. In acknowledgement, she was awarded Best Painting category in the Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in August 2023..

This is Julie's father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu , a rocky outcrop deep in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu. It is here that Julie depicts the movement of rain and water across the landscape, in the palette of white and blue-grey on black - her story of Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming).

This rocky country with its significant waterholes and plentiful bush tucker is one of many significant locations for the Water Dreaming because if you know which rocks to move you always have access to fresh water in the deep natural occurring wells of Pirlinyanu. Without this knowledge one could imagine there was no water in this desert landscape.

The eldest of the five daughters of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, Julie 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.