Water Dreaming 2011 by Julie Nangala Robertson 53x53cm

"Pirlinyanu Site - Water Dreaming" (2011) by Julie Nangala Robertson showcases her extraordinary talent, which earned her the 2023 Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in the Best Painting category. This stunning piece portrays her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), deeply connected to her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and near the WA border. This is a crucial site for the Water Dreaming, known for its significant waterholes and abundant bush tucker. The deep, naturally occurring wells provide essential fresh water, even in dry times. Traditional knowledge, passed down through generations, teaches which rocks to move to access these hidden water sources, highlighting the cultural and survival importance of this site.

Julie’s painting style features an aerial perspective combined with a distinctive monochromatic palette. Her technique of alternating dot sizes and building specific shapes through repeated overdotting results in works of extraordinary optical brilliance. This meticulous approach creates intricate patterns and reference points, making her artwork visually captivating.