Sarah Napurrurla Leo, Lukarrara Jukurrpa, 46x46cm

• Artist - Sarah Napurrurla Leo
• Community - Yuendumu  
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 3171/15   
• Materials - Acrylic on pre-stretched canvas  
• Size(cm) - H46 W46 D2 
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched  and rolled

This Jukurrpa belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush [Fimbristylis oxystachya & Fimbristylis eremophila]) is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘ngatinyanu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten. In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed bearing grass Lukurrara. ‘U’ shapes can depict the Karnta (women) collecting ‘lukarrara’ and straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall down to the ground and are also collected by women using their ‘parrajas’ (wooden food carriers) and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).

Sara Napurrurla Leo was born in 1971 on Napperly Station, an area located 122 km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. Sara later moved with her parents from the Napperby homestead area to the Laramba Community, 205 km north-west of Alice Springs. The Laramba Community began in 1983 on the Napperly Station Homestead but moved to its present location in 1984. Sara’s parents have both passed away. She has two sisters, Selma Napurrurla Leo and Katherine Napurrurla Leo and one brother Clement Japurrurla Leo. Her remaining Grandmother is Rita Nagala Dixon.

Sara had a traditional upbringing, spending time with her parents who would take her out bush, around Napperly, showing her sites and teaching her the traditional ways of her country. Later she lived in Alice Springs where she met her husband who was from Yuendumu, an aboriginal community located 190 km north-west of Alice Springs. Shortly after they were married they moved to Yuendumu where she has lived ever since. Sara found work with the Old People’s Program, and took care of the elderly, helping them when they were sick, being with them when they feel alone, or when they are frighten during storms.

Sara has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2008. She paints Karnta Jukurrpa (Womens Dreaming), her Father’s Jukurrpa stories. These stories relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. She also paints her Mother’s Jukurrpa, Ngurlur Jukurrpa (Native Seed Dreaming). Sara uses an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.

When Sara is not painting she looks after her young son who was born in 2008.

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