Pirlinyanu by Julie Nangala Robertson Diptych

Pirlinyanu (2004) is a beautiful diptych incorporating two panels measuring 30x60cm each panel. Julie Nangala Robertson, was inspired by her mother, Dorothy Napangardi in creating multiple panels in artworks. Just like her mother in 1991, Julie was awarded Best Painting Category in the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award. She hopes to follow her mother's footsteps by, in future, winning the Overall Category.

Julie depicts her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), which is associated with her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and towards the WA border.

This rocky country with its significant waterholes and plentiful bush tucker is one of many significant locations for the Water Dreaming because if you know which rocks to move you always have access to fresh water in the deep natural occurring wells of Pirlinyanu. Without this knowledge one could imagine there was no water in this desert landscape.