Water Dreaming at Kalipinya 2000 by Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra 61x61cm 4994EM

Water Dreaming at Kalipinya), 2000 by Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra

"Water Dreaming at Kalipinya" by Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra depicts an important dreaming for both Water and Bush Potato that Elizabeth has inherited from her father. During the Creation Era, great storms with flash flooding and lightening formed this site, approximately 400km west of Alice Springs and north of Sandy Blight Junction.

The continued sinuous line around the painting symbolises running water whereas the short lines represent clouds. The central concentric circle symbolises a large waterhole, while small round shapes depict the fires where women prepare to cook bush potatoes that they have collected. Larger curved shapes illustrate windbreaks made from branches to protect against the harsh desert winds.

Elizabeth Nakamarra Marks began painting in the mid-1990s, focusing on women’s sacred stories and emphasizing their roles as healers and providers in Luritja society. Born on August 12, 1959, she is the niece of renowned Papunya Tula artist Johnny Warangkula. She married the celebrated artist Mick Namarrari Tjapaltjarri, with whom she had three children.

Raised in Kintore and Mt Liebig, NT, Elizabeth studied at Bachelor College in Alice Springs and served as a council member in Kintore. Her work, deeply rooted in the Dreaming stories of the Tingari Cycle, captures the spiritual journey and rituals that shaped the land’s features. Known for her Escher-like style, Elizabeth’s paintings often use a single color with a contrasting hue on a black background, creating dynamic line patterns.

As a member of Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., an Aboriginal-owned cooperative, Elizabeth's works have gained international recognition. She was named in the 2004 Australian Art Collector's Top 50 Most Collectible Artists. Elizabeth Nakamarra Marks continues to live and paint in the Gibson Desert, preserving and celebrating her rich cultural heritage.