Pirlinyanu Diptych by Julie Nangala Robertson 30x60cm each 8034JR

Pirlinyanu Site – Water Dreaming, 2003
Diptych by Julie Nangala Robertson (2 panels, each 30 x 60 cm)

This striking diptych by acclaimed Warlpiri artist Julie Nangala Robertson is a refined example of her unique style and evolving artistic voice. Created in 2003, Pirlinyanu Site – Water Dreaming draws inspiration from her mother, the late Dorothy Napangardi, a highly esteemed artist known for her masterful multi-panel compositions and minimalist aesthetic. This work represents a bold departure from Julie’s earlier pieces, embracing a more exploratory and expansive visual language.

The painting is rooted in Julie’s father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu—a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and near the Western Australian border. This remote site holds deep spiritual and practical significance for the Warlpiri people. It is known for its rockholes and hidden water sources, which are vital for survival in the arid desert. Ancestral knowledge passed down through generations teaches which stones to move to access these deep, naturally occurring wells—sacred information that is essential for life in Country.

Julie’s aerial perspective, a hallmark of her practice, captures the landscape with a sophisticated monochromatic palette. Her technique—using dots of varied sizes and carefully layered repetitions—creates a sense of movement and shimmering brilliance, evoking the presence of water in an otherwise dry land. The resulting visual effect is both meditative and dynamic, reinforcing her position as one of the leading contemporary Aboriginal artists.

In 2023, Julie Nangala Robertson was awarded the Best Painting category at the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), echoing her mother Dorothy’s triumph in 1991. Julie has since expressed her ambition to follow in her mother’s footsteps by winning the Overall Prize in the future.

Julie, the eldest daughter of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, recently formalised the spelling of her surname as Robertson, in alignment with her extended family in Yuendumu. She attributes the earlier spelling to a mistake by her father, Windy, and made the change to honour her heritage and strengthen her connection to Country and kin.