Women's Ceremonies by Pantjiya Nungurrayi 122x122cm

This painting, titled Women's Ceremonies by Pantjiya Nungurrayi, illustrates designs connected to important women’s ceremonies at the rockhole site of Kungkiyunti (Browns Bore), located west of Haasts Bluff. The roundels in the artwork represent the campsites of a group of women, who are symbolised by the 'U' shapes. The straight bar signifies a fighting club, while the oblong shapes depict wooden carrying bowls, essential tools for their daily lives.

The painting recounts a poignant story. After gathering edible berries known as kampurarrpa (bush raisin) from the shrub Solanum centrale , the women journeyed west to Ngutjulnga, near Kintore. Tragically, they succumbed to the cold when they were unable to ignite their fire-sticks. Today, a small cluster of rounded rocks at the site is said to represent the women, their backs hunched against the bitter cold.

Pantjiya Nungurrayi, born around 1936, first encountered European Australians as a young girl. She is the widow of George Tjangala, a significant artist associated with Papunya Tula. In the late 1970s, Pantjiya and her family lived at Kungkiyunti Outstation before relocating to Kintore after the community was established. Her work reflects a deep connection to her heritage, capturing not only the physical features of her country but also the cultural and ceremonial significance embedded in its landscapes and stories.