Jill Nungarrayi Watson, Ngalyipi Jukurrpa (Snake Vine Dreaming) - Purturlu, 30x30cm

• Artist - Jill Nungarrayi Watson
• Community - Yuendumu
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 4607/14
• Materials - Acrylic on pre stretched canvas 
• Size(cm) - H30 W30 D3.5
• Postage variants - This work is posted stretched ready to hang

The country associated with this ‘ngalyipi Jukurrpa’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina] Dreaming) is located at Purturlu (Mt. Theo), north of Yuendumu. The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this Dreaming are Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men. The ‘kurdungurlu’ (custodians) for this Dreaming are Nangala/Nakamarra women and Jangala/Jakamarra men.

‘Ngalyipi’ (snakevine) is a green creeper that climbs up the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs. The plant is found on sandy spinifex plains and sandhills. ‘Ngalyipi’ is frequently depicted in paintings due to its many uses and its great ceremonial importance. The vine can be used as a shoulder strap to carry ‘parraja’ (coolamons) and ‘ngami’ (water carriers). The plant also has medicinal uses; its vines are used as tourniquets, and its leaves and vines are used as bandages for wounds. Warlpiri sometimes also chew the leaves to treat severe colds. ‘Ngalyipi’ stems can be pounded between stones and tied around the forehead to cure headaches. In men’s initiation, ‘ngalyipi’ is used to tie the ‘witi’ (ceremonial poles) to the shins of the dancing initiates, and to tie ‘yukurruyukurru’ (dancing boards) to dancers’ bodies. The initiation ceremonies associated with the ‘ngalyipi’ Dreaming at Purturlu are for the sons and grandsons of Japanangka and Japangardi men. Napanangka and Napangardi women dance at these ceremonies, and then look away and block their ears when the men dance. This ‘witi’ ceremony is performed at night under the stars.

In Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. In many paintings of this Jukurrpa, sinuous lines are used to represent the ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine). Straight lines are used to represent the ‘witi’ (ceremonial poles) and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).

Jill Nungarrayi Watson was born near Tennant Creek, a small township located 500 km north of Alice Springs. When her grandfather died, her family moved to Lajamanu where she went to school. She later moved to Yirara College, a coeducational, Years 7 to 10, Indigenous residential School in Alice Springs. In 1983 she married Lawrence Jangala Watson and shortly after they moved to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She has 4 children, three sons and one daughter. Her second son is a Yuendumu Police aid. Jill worked at the local Centre link office for 12 years, working from 1994 to 2010. She has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 1992. She paints her father’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features and animals. These stories have been passed down to her from her Grandmother and Grandfather and their parents before them for millennia. Jill has exhibited in Group Exhibitions in Florida, USA; Osaka, Japan; and Alice Springs, Australia. When she’s not painting she likes to go hunting for Bush tucker and taking her Aunty, Judy Napangardi Watson, goanna hunting.

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