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Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm
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  • Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
  • Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
  • Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
  • Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
  • Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
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Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®
Aboriginal Art by Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm - ART ARK®

Colin Jakamarra Gibson, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x46cm

£420.00

Original Work of Art (they all are!)

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  • Aboriginal Artist - Colin Jakamarra Gibson
  • Community - Nyirripi
  • Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
  • Catalogue number - 1237/23ny
  • Materials - Acrylic paint on linen
  • Size(cm) - H122 W46 D2
  • Postage variants - Artwork is posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping.
  • Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

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 ‘yankirri’ (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.

Colin was born in the bush near Lake Mackay.  He was taken early on too Mt Doreen Station and later to Yuendumu.  He lived at Areyonga where he met his wife Jennifer Nappaljarri Lewis.  Together they moved to Mutitjulu and worked with the Uluru/Kata Tjuta Rangers for six years before settling down at Nyirripi.

Colin paints his grandfather's country, a site named Wanaritjarra, north of Kiwirrkurra community.  He tells the story of Winiki, a small bird that travels from Wanaritjarra to Lake Mackay then onto Mt Doreen.