Lizzie Nungarrayi Spencer, Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) - Yarripurlangu, 30x30cm
Original Work of Art (1/1) — they all are!
Certified by Community Art Centre
Fast & Free Delivery
120 Day Returns
Authenticity Guarantee
Colour Correct Images
1520+ Reviews
- Details
- Artwork
- Artist
- Artist - Lizzie Nungarrayi Spencer
- Community - Yuendumu
- Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
- Catalogue number - 5413/17
- Materials - Acrylic on pre-stretched canvas
- Size(cm) - H30 W30 D3.5
- Postage variants - This work is posted pre-stretched and ready to hang
- Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished
This Wardapi Jukurrpa (goanna [Varanus gouldii] Dreaming) comes from Yarripilangku, south-west of Yuendumu. It tells the story of a group of Karnta (Warlpiri women) that were sitting down in a circle. A man from Mt. Theo, of the Japangardi skin group named Wamaru, came up to the women. He wanted to take a girl of the wrong skin, a Nungarrayi. He took the Nungarrayi woman, named Yurlkurinyi, and went up the hill where they made love. Then the earth turned to Ngunjungunju (yellow and white ochre) and the man turned himself and all the ‘karnta’ (women) into ‘wardapi’ (goannas). The ochre is still found on top of the hill and is used today for love magic and for ceremonial decoration. This Jukurrpa belongs to the Napaljarri/Japaljarri and Nungarrayi/Jungarrayi subsections. It also belongs to people from Mt Theo of the Japanangka/Napanangka, Japangardi/Napangardi subsections. In paintings of this Jukurrpa, the group of women is often represented by concentric circles and ‘U’ shapes typically are used to represent women. Concentric circles can also illustrate ‘wardapi’ holes and the droppings they leave while ‘wardapi’ tracks are usually represented by ‘W’ shapes.
Lizzie Nungarrayi Spencer was born in 1985 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. She is the daughter of Caroline Nakamarra Gibson and the grand-daughter of Nancy Napanangka Gibson, both artists working with Warlukurlangu Art Centre. Lizzie was brought up in Nyirripi, an Aboriginal community located a further 150 kms west-south-west of Yuendumu. She attended the local Primary School then moved to Alice Springs where she attended Yirara College, of the Finke River Mission, a boarding school for Indigenous students 12 years and older from remote communities. When she completed her schooling she returned to Nyirripi and worked at the Nyirripi Shop. She is married and has two boys who attend the local school. Lizzie is furthering her studies and will be working for the school soon.
Lizzie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2009. Warlukurlangu makes regular visits to Nyirripi to drop off canvas, paint and brushes for the artists and to collect finished artwork. Lizzie paints her father’s Wardapi (Goanna) Jukurrpa from an area to the east of Yuendumu called Yarumayi, and her Grandmother’s Mina Mina Jukurrpa, a place far to the west of Yuendumu. Lizzie likes painting, ït’s good to do painting…its very relaxing”.
When Lizzie is not painting or looking after her two boys she likes to play basketball or go hunting for goanna with her family.
Celebrate Cultural Diversity in Your Home
Enrich your space with beautiful original Aboriginal art from the world’s oldest living culture. Every artwork supports the artist and arrives just as shown online—colour-accurate, carefully packed, and with an authenticity certificate from a community-based art centre. Plus, enjoy free insured delivery and a 120-day return policy for a confident, seamless, and ethical purchase.
Authenticity You Can Trust
Only certificates from community-based Aboriginal art centres guarantee ethical sourcing. Every ART ARK® piece includes this authentic documentation. Learn more about Aboriginal Art Authenticity.
Framing Aboriginal Art
To keep pricing transparent, we deliver artworks as they come to us—unframed and priced in accordance with each art centre. Canvas and linen pieces are rolled for easy re-stretching at your local framer. Bark paintings and smaller items from our Stretched Desert Paintings collection arrive ready to hang. Watercolours should be framed behind glass, either custom or pre-made. Learn more about Framing Aboriginal Art.
Kind Words
Our customers love our fast deliveries, the accuracy of our images, and our ethical business model. See our Customer Reviews to learn more.
Worldwide Delivery
Shipping from Launceston, Tasmania (Lutruwita), to your doorstep, wherever you are. For international orders under $500 AUD, a $30 AUD postage fee applies; otherwise, shipping is free.