Pirlinyanu - Water Dreaming by Julie Nangala Robertson 61x31cm

Julie Nangala Robertson, winner of the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting category, beautifully captures her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) in "Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming." This artwork is deeply connected to her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and towards the WA border.

Pirlinyanu is a significant site for the Water Dreaming due to its vital waterholes and abundant bush tucker. The deep, naturally occurring wells in this rocky landscape provide fresh water, crucial for survival in the desert. Traditional knowledge, passed down patrilineally and from aunt to niece, guides the understanding of which rocks to move to access these water sources. This knowledge is vital for the Nampijinpa and Nangala sub-section groups.

Julie’s paintings, known for their extraordinary optical brilliance, use an aerial perspective and a distinctive monochromatic palette. She alternates dot sizes and builds specific shapes or reference points through repeated dotting, creating intricate and visually striking works.