Pirlinyanu Site by Julie Nangala Robertson 30x30cm

Julie Nangala Robertson, winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting category, masterfully captures the essence of Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) in her 2005 painting, "Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming." Using a striking monochromatic palette in a beautiful red, one of her favorite colours, she illustrates the movement of rain falling on the rocky outcrop and rock holes.

Pirlinyanu, a significant site in the Tanami Desert west of Yuendumu and near the WA border, is her father's traditional country. This rocky outcrop is vital for the Water Dreaming due to its numerous deep rock holes that provide life-giving water, even during dry periods. The painting reflects the traditional knowledge passed down through generations about the location and importance of these water sources.

Recently, Julie, the eldest daughter of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, changed the spelling of her surname to Robertson, aligning with her relatives in Yuendumu. She believes her father, Windy, had misspelled it. Windy Robinson had two wives, Rene and Dorothy, and this adjustment honors her family heritage and accuracy.