Pirlinyanu Site by Julie Nangala Robertson 23x30cm

Julie Nangala Robertson’s "Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming" (2004) beautifully narrates the Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) through a monochromatic palette. This stunning piece by Robertson, the winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting Category, is a testament to her artistic prowess.

The artwork conveys traditional knowledge, highlighting the location of deep rock holes at Pirlinyanu, a vital part of the Ngapa Jukurrpa for the Warlpiri people of the Tanami Desert. Situated approximately 450 km west of Alice Springs, near Yuendumu and towards the WA border, Pirlinyanu holds great significance.

Custodianship of this Dreaming belongs to the Nangala/Jangala and Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa skin groups, who bear the responsibility of passing down these traditional stories.

Julie Nangala Robertson, the eldest daughter of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, recently altered the spelling of her surname from Robinson to Robertson. This change reflects the correct spelling as her father, Windy, had misspelt it. Now, her surname aligns with her relatives in Yuendumu.