Pirlinyanu Dreaming, 2004 by Julie Nangala Robertson 91x152cm Cat 8554JR

Julie depicts her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), using an aerial perspective and distinctive monochromatic palette, and achieves works of optical brilliance as she alternates the size of dots throughout her work as well as building up specific shapes or reference points often by repeating dotting.

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

The site is Julie's 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 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. Ownership of country is passed down from the father (patrilineal) and ritual knowledge is passed on from auntie to niece (father’s sisters). In this case it is those of the Nampitjinpa and Nangala sub-section groups.

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.