This artwork will be on display at the exhibition 'Echoes of Tradition' at Bluethumb's Melbourne gallery from 27th June - 14th August.
This painting depicts a 'yankirri Jukurrpa' (emu Dromaius
novaehollandiae] Dreaming) from a place called Ngarlikurlangu,
approximately 50kms north of Yuendumu. The kirda' (owners) of this
Dreaming are Nangala/Nampijinpa women and Jangala/Jampijinpa
men.
This Jukurrpa tells the story of a 'yankirri* (emu) and a 'wardilyka' (bush
turkey [Ardeotis australis)). Yankirri" lived at a soakage to the west
called Warnirripanu (or Walangkamirirri), while wardilyka' lived at a
soakage to the east called Parirri. The emu and bush turkey used to go
around the country picking yakajirri' (bush raisins (Solanum centrale])
and mashing them into kapurdu' (fruit balls) to save in their nests for
later. However, they were jealous of each other; the emu thought that
the bush turkey was picking the best and juiciest "yakajirri', and was
leaving him with only the sour yakajirri.
The emu went to the bush turkey's nest to the east while the bush turkey
was out hunting and smashed up the 'kapurdu' that the bush turkey had
saved there. When the bush turkey returned, he found his smashed
yakajirri balls and realized that the emu had destroyed them. He went to
the west to confront the emu and when he found him, they got into a big
fight. The bush turkey eventually flew away to the north, leaving behind
the smashed yakajirri balls.
This practice of making 'kapurdu' (fruit balls) is a traditional Warlpiri
method of storing yakajirri; in the old days, people used to dry the
‘yakajirri’, grind them up with a rock in a coolamon, mix them with water
and form balls from them, and cover the 'kapurdu' with red ochre so they
would keep.
Today at Ngarlikirlangu we can see round, red rocks which are the
kapurdu' that the emu smashed up. There is also a dance for this
‘Yankajirri' (emu) Jukurrpa that is performed during mens' initiation
ceremonies. A number of other Jukurrpa are also located at
Ngarlikirlangu, including 'wardilyka Jukurrpa' (bush turkey Dreaming),
yardijiinypa Jukurrpa* (meat ant Dreaming), and 'pirntina Jukurrpa'
(woma or Ramsay's python [Aspidites ramsayi] Dreaming). Lots of
yakajirri' grow around the Ngarlikirlangu area today.
In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used
to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites, and other elements.
‘Yankirri’ are usually represented by arrow-like shapes depicting their
‘wirliya’ (footprints) as they walk around.