Janie Napangardi Williams, Ngarlkirdi Jukurrpa (Witchetty Grub Dreaming), 76x61cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Janie Napangardi Williams
• Community - Yuendumu
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 634/22
• Materials - Acrylic on linen 
• Size(cm) - H76 W61 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 Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women (often shown as ‘U’ shaped figures) collecting ‘ngarlkirdi’ (witchetty grubs) in an area known as Kunajarrayi (Mount Nicker) 200 km to the south-west of Yuendumu. Witchetty grubs can be eaten cooked or raw and are edible in all phases of their life cycle. The design of this painting also symbolises important features of initiation ceremonies for young Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. The area contains many caves (‘pirnki’) overlooking an important ceremonial site associated with the Ngarlkirdi Jukurrpa. This story belongs to the Nungarrayi/Jungarrayi and Napaljarri/Japaljarri subsections. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Circular shapes are often used to depict the important sites for the ceremony and the long straight lines represent ‘witi’ ceremonial poles, which play an important role during the initiation ceremonies.

Janie Napangardi Williams was born in 1974, in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Her biological mother passed away when she was very young. She was brought up by Mary Napangardi Butcher’s Dad, Jack Japanangka Butcher (Dec) and his sister Daisy Napanangka Nelson (Dec), both respected artists of the Yuendumu community. Janie attended the local school, and has three siblings - Joey, Maggie and Graham.

Janie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2007. When young she would often visit the art centre and watch her adopted family paint and would listen to their stories. Janie paints her father’s and her Grandfather’s Ngarlidirdi Jukurrpa (Witchetty Grub Dreaming), from north of Mt Dennison. These stories relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. They have been passed down to her by her parents and their parents before them for millennial. Janie uses traditional iconology and an unrestricted palette to depict her traditional culture.

Janie is a single parent raising three children. She currently lives in Willowra, a remote Aboriginal community located 220 km north-west of Alice Springs and 200 km from Yuendumu. Whenever she can, she continues to visit Yuendumu, painting alongside her family and friends.