Pirlinyanu Site, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson 45x35cm

The Pirlinyanu Site – Water Dreaming, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson

The Pirlinyanu Site – Water Dreaming, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson is a vibrant portrayal of the life-giving force of water. Julie often incorporates a striking red background, symbolising strength and vitality. Her works are deeply rooted in the Water Dreaming, an essential theme for the Nangala/Jangala and Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa kinship groups. This dreaming is connected to significant sites in 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, which straddles the Northern Territory-Western Australia border.

Winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award for Best Painting, Julie Nangala Robertson continues to honour her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), which is linked to her father’s homeland. The region, abundant with waterholes and bush tucker, is a vital site for the Water Dreaming. Those who understand the land know that fresh water can always be found by moving the right rocks, revealing natural wells that are crucial for survival in the arid desert landscape.

Julie’s artworks, viewed from an aerial perspective, feature a refined monochromatic palette that creates a mesmerising optical effect. She masterfully varies dot sizes and uses overdotting to build intricate shapes and reference points across the canvas. Recently, Julie changed the spelling of her surname to Robertson, aligning it with her relatives in Yuendumu. She is the eldest daughter of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, with Windy Robertson as her father.

This work is a striking example of Julie Nangala Robertson’s evolving artistic style and her deep connection to Warlpiri storytelling, reinforcing her status as one of the most significant contemporary Aboriginal artists today.