Delvene Napangardi Langdon, Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming), 76x46cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Delvene Napangardi Langdon
• Community - Yuendumu
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 4391/21
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H76 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

The Wanakiji Jukurrpa (bush tomato [Solanum chippendalei] Dreaming) travels through Yaturlu (near Mount Theo, north of Yuendumu). “Wanakiji” grows in open spinifex country and is a small, prickly plant with purple flowers that bears green fleshy fruit with many small black seeds. After collecting the fruit the seeds are removed with a small wooden spoon called ‘kajalarra’. The fruit then can be eaten raw or threaded onto skewers called ‘turlturrpa’ and then cooked over a fire. ‘Wanakiji’ can also be skewered and left to dry. When they are prepared in this way it is called ‘turlturrpa’ and the fruit can be kept for a long time. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. The Wanakiji Jukurrpa belongs to Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men.

Delvene Napangardi Langdon was born in 1988 in Alice Spring, the closest hospital to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs. She grew up with her family in Yuendumu. Her family belong to the Baptist church and they are all keen gospel singers. This is Delvene's favourite pass-time when she is not looking after her young daughter. Delvene has been painting for Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre in Yuendumu, since she was thirteen years old. She paints her Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings from Mt. Theo, a sacred mountain of which her family are traditional owners. For thousands of years this dreaming story has been handed down through the generations, and relates to the creation of this land, the mountain, the surrounding trees and animals and fresh water sources. When it rains in Yuendumu, Delvene takes her daughter, Nangali, out hunting for Yurrumbi (Honey Ants).