Water Dreaming, 2004 by Julie Nangala Robertson 91x152cm

"Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming, 2004" by Julie Nangala Robertson showcases her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming) through an aerial perspective and a distinctive monochromatic palette. Julie achieves optical brilliance by alternating dot sizes and building specific shapes or reference points through repeated dotting. This technique brings a unique depth and dynamism to her work.

Julie was awarded the Best Painting category in the Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in August 2023, recogniSing her exceptional talent.

The depicted site is Julie's father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and near the WA border. This area, with its significant waterholes and abundant bush tucker, is crucial for the Water Dreaming. Those knowledgeable about which rocks to move can access fresh water in the deep, naturally occurring wells of Pirlinyanu. Without this knowledge, the desert landscape might appear waterless.

Ownership of country is passed patrilineally (from father to child), and ritual knowledge is transmitted from aunt to niece (father’s sisters), specifically within the Nampitjinpa and Nangala sub-section groups.

Julie Nangala Robertson, the eldest of five daughters of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson, recently changed the spelling of her surname to Robertson to align with her other relatives in Yuendumu, correcting a misspelling by her father, Windy. Julie's work reflects her deep connection to her cultural heritage and the natural landscape, as seen in her award-winning art.