Pirlinyanu, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson, 40x40cm

Pirlinyanu, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson, 40 x 40 cm

Pirlinyanu, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson is part of a small series of vibrant works celebrating the life-giving force of water. In this piece, she once again employs a striking red background, symbolising strength and vitality. Water Dreaming is the central theme of her work, an ancestral story deeply significant to the Nangala/Jangala and Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa kinship groups. This dreaming is connected to key sites within her traditional country, Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Central Desert, west of Yuendumu. Further west lies her mother’s country, Mina Mina, and Lake MacKay on the Northern Territory-Western Australia border.

Julie’s artworks are defined by their aerial perspective and distinctive monochromatic palette, creating an extraordinary optical effect. She varies dot sizes and uses intricate overdotting to construct layered shapes and reference points that add movement and depth to her compositions. Her evolving technique has placed her among the most celebrated contemporary Warlpiri artists.

Recently, Julie adjusted the spelling of her surname to Robertson, aligning with her extended family in Yuendumu. She is the eldest daughter of the renowned artist Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, with Windy Robertson as her father.

Winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award for Best Painting, Julie Nangala Robertson continues to honour her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), which is closely tied to her father’s homeland. The region is abundant with waterholes and bush tucker, making it an essential site for Water Dreaming. Those with deep knowledge of the land understand that beneath the rocky surface, fresh water can be uncovered by shifting specific stones, an invaluable survival skill in this arid environment.

This work is a testament to Julie Nangala Robertson’s mastery of form and storytelling, capturing the enduring relationship between Warlpiri people and their country through her unique artistic vision.