The country associated with this painting is Mina Mina, a place far west of Yuendumu, significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women who are the custodians of the Dreaming that created the area. The Dreaming describes the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (Tinospora smilacina or snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them eventually beyond Warlpiri country. The motif in this painting are the Karlangu (digging sticks) which rose up out of the ground at Mina Mina. The women used them to collect bush tucker on their travels.
Read LessThis painting is of the Majardi Jukurrpa (Hair-string belt or tassel dreaming). In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements.
Majardi is a belt or pubic tassel made of Purdurru (spun hair or fur that ) is made for and worn during traditional ceremonies. Human hair (and sometimes the fur from wallabys or possums) is rolled on the thigh and then spun using a Wirinkirri (stick spindle) . The string is then incorporated into a skirt or pubic tassel that is worn by men or women during ceremonies and while dancing.
The owners of the Majardi Jukurrpa from near Mina Mina, a site of great religious significance far to the west of Yuendumu, are the women of the Napangardi and Mapanangka subsection.