Pirlinyanu - Water Dreaming 2002 by Julie Nangala Robertson, 61x31cm

Pirlinyanu – Water Dreaming, 2002 by Julie Nangala Robertson (61 x 31 cm)

This early work by Julie Nangala Robertson is part of a significant series created in 2002, when she began painting alongside her mother, the esteemed Dorothy Napangardi. This formative period was instrumental in shaping Julie’s artistic voice, allowing her to refine her technique while honouring the rich storytelling traditions of her Warlpiri heritage.

Depicted from an aerial perspective, the painting is alive with movement and vibrancy, with flowing lines connecting multiple rockholes. These elements symbolise the transformation of the desert landscape after rain, when water seeps into the deep wells of Pirlinyanu, a sacred Water Dreaming site west of Nyrripi in the Central Desert. In Warlpiri, pirli means "stone," highlighting the site's geological and cultural importance.

Pirlinyanu’s rockholes hold precious water, sustaining life in the arid environment. Knowledge of these water sources is passed down through generations, ensuring their continued protection. This Dreaming belongs to those with the skin names Nangala or Nampijinpa (women) and Jangala or Jampijinpa (men), reinforcing a lineage of custodianship and traditional knowledge-sharing.

Julie’s deep connection to the Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) remains the foundation of her work. Her intricate compositions capture the rhythm of rain as it falls upon the rocky outcrop, flowing into the sacred rockholes that hold the lifeblood of the desert.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Julie won the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award for Best Painting, a prestigious title Dorothy Napangardi had first claimed in 1991. Aspiring to further honour her mother’s legacy, she hopes to achieve the Overall Category award in future competitions.

Recently, Julie changed the spelling of her surname from Robinson to Robertson, aligning with her relatives in Yuendumu. She believes her father, Windy, originally misspelled it, and this adjustment pays tribute to her family heritage. Windy had two wives, Rene and Dorothy Robinson, further enriching Julie’s deep cultural connections.

A testament to her artistic brilliance and unwavering cultural legacy, Julie Nangala Robertson’s work continues to honour the land, the Dreaming, and the knowledge entrusted to her by her ancestors