Joy Nangala Brown, Nguru Lappi Lappi-wana (Landscape around Lappi Lappi / Lake Mackay), 122x46cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Joy Nangala Brown
• Community - Nyirripi
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 1951/20ny
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H122 W46 D2 
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

In this painting, the artist depicts the rockholes in the country around Lappi Lappi, a rock hole near Lake Hazlett, about 90 kilometres northwest of Lake Mackay in Western Australia. The artist's father travelled around the Lappi Lappi region when young, and passed on many stories of this country to his daughter.

The Lappi Lappi country belongs to Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa and Nangala/Jangala skin groups. Located in a sheltered basin, the rock hole at Lappi Lappi is a permanent source of water, and is surrounded by country rich in bush tucker. In the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime) many mothers with young children would gather there because it was a safe place to stay. The rock hole at Lappi Lappi is home to a ‘warnayarra’, a rainbow serpent that travels underground between various rock holes. One day, women were gathered at the rock hole with their children, singing and dancing. When the ‘warnayarra’ heard the sound of voices, it travelled silently towards them, under the water. When it reached the edge of the rock hole, it rose out of the water and ate them all. 

Joy Nangala Brown was born in Alice Springs Hospital on the 4th of July, 1966. She spent most of her childhood at Yuendumu, although did several years of schooling in Alice Springs at Yirara College. Joy moved to Nyirrpi in the early 1980's, and has lived there ever since, although she travels back and forth to Yuendumu to visit family. Joy is the daughter of the successful Pintupi artist Pegleg Jampijinpa, and grew up with his art work around her. She is married to Jay Jay Spencer, the adopted son of another highly successful artist from Yuendumu, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart. They have two children, a daughter and son and grandchildren. Her daughter Debbie Napaljarri Brown also paints with Warlukurlangu Artists. Joy has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2006. Joy paints her Father’s and Grandfather’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings passed down to her by her mother and father, who in turn received them from their parents. They relate directly to the land and its features, and the plants and animals that live on it. Joy enjoys hunting for goannas and bush tucker, playing cards and singing in the church choir in her spare time.