Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming, 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson 152x122cm Cat 14225JR

"Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming, 2011" by Julie Nangala Robertson showcases her unique visual language, blending stylized experimentation with ancient narrative. Using an aerial perspective and a distinctive monochromatic palette, Julie’s paintings depict the topographical features of Pirlinyanu, her traditional country. She employs various dot sizes to create specific shapes and reference points with intricate over-dotting.

In this painting, Julie illustrates her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), associated with her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and near the Western Australia border.

Julie Nangala Robertson, one of five daughters of internationally renowned artist Dorothy Napangardi, has been painting since the late 1990s. She often painted alongside her mother. Her works frequently depict Pirlinyanu, a significant Water Dreaming site (Ngapa Jukurrpa) in the Tanami Desert heading towards Mina Mina, her mother's traditional country.

Pirlinyanu is notable for its waterholes and abundant bush tucker. Knowing which rocks to move reveals access to fresh water in the deep, naturally occurring wells—an essential survival skill in the desert landscape. Without this knowledge, one might assume there is no water in this arid region.