Selma Napurrurla Leo, Lukarrara Jukurrpa,76x46cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Selma Napurrurla Leo
• Community - Yuendumu 
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 533/21
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H76 W46 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

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). 

Selma Napurrurla Leo was born in 1982 in Alice Springs Hospital, the closest hospital to Laramba Community 205 km north-west of Alice Springs. Selma attended the local public school but she also had a traditional upbringing, spending time with her family who would take her out bush. “My parents passed away when I was 27, after I had my number three son, Osiah”. She has one brother and two sisters. She is married and has one daughter and three sons. Her husband’s mother, Elizabeth Napaljarri Katakarinja, an established artist, and her sister Sarah, also an artist, live in Yuendumu, 143 km north west of Laramba, so they visit often.

Selma began painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, in 2016. She paints her mother’s Lukarrara Jukurrpa (Desert Fringe-rush Seed Dreaming), Dreaming which relates directly to her land, its features and animals. When visiting, She enjoys coming to the Art Centre and painting with her Sister.

When she is not painting at home or at Warlukurlangu Art Centre she loves to go hunting for goanna and kangaroo as well as swimming in the local pool.