![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by IMELDA (YUKENBARRI) GUGAMAN of Warlayirti Artists (Balgo). The title is Winpurpurla. [138-16] (Acrylic on Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/w/artwork/i/winpurpurla-4119-LARGE-1.webp)
IMELDA (YUKENBARRI) GUGAMAN
Winpurpurla138-16
Acrylic on Linen
Winpurpurla | 138-16
Acrylic on Linen
180 x 150cm | 70.87 x 59.06in
Find Out More
Imelda is the first child born to Lucy Yukenbarri and Helicopter Tjungurrayi. Imelda would sit with her mother, learning about her stories and learning to paint. In this painting, Imelda has depicted her mother’s country south of Balgo, in the Great Sandy Desert. This country is named Winpurpurla, after a tjurnu (soakwater). Winpurpurla is an inta (living water) place so it always has good water.
Women travelled to Winpurpurla, travelling from the south over tali (sand dunes). These women were Napanangka, Nangala and Nungurrayi, and as they approached their destination they sang to inform their arrival. Those who were waiting at Winpurpurla lit a fire as they heard the women singing and dancing. The women were welcomed and given mangari (food). A big ceremony was then held at Winpurpurla.
This is an important place to meet and also a good place to collect different kinds of seeds including lukarrari which is grounded to make damper, as well as kumpupatja (bush tomato) and karnti (bush potato).
There are also soakwaters at Winpurpula, where you dig for water underground. Imelda shares, "Before you drink it, you have to talk to the spirit, to say thank you, to make respect, then you wet your head and your body and then you can drink that water. They knew how to find water. I look at that travelling now, look at a map and think about the distance. How could they travel so long and know where the water is? They told stories so they knew. Palya. Nymor."
Women travelled to Winpurpurla, travelling from the south over tali (sand... Read More