Water Dreaming at Kalipinya (2008) by Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra 61x61cm 6309EM

Water Dreaming at Kalipinya (2008) by Elizabeth Nakamarra Marks

In "Water Dreaming at Kalipinya," Elizabeth Nakamarra Marks presents a unique depiction of a site approximately 400km west of Alice Springs and north of Sandy Blight Junction. This is an important Water Dreaming site that Elizabeth has inherited through her father. The painting narrates the journeys of the Tingari ancestors, whose rituals shaped the land formations. The natural environment around Kalipinya is dominated by sandhills, which also reflect traditional body paint designs used in sacred ceremonies. The three central concentric circles symbolise the waterholes, soaks and creeks, whereas the long sinuous lines represent running water. Smaller round shapes represent the fires where women, depicted by the U-shapes beside their dancing boards, prepare for ceremonies.

Elizabeth Nakamarra Marks began painting in the mid-1990s, focusing on women’s sacred stories, emphasizing the roles of women as healers and providers in Luritja society. Born on August 12, 1959, she is the niece of renowned Papunya Tula artist Johnny Warangkula. Elizabeth was promised in marriage to 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 created 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.

Elizabeth's works have gained international recognition, and 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