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This painting depicts the Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) from Wapurtali, west of Yuendumu. 'Pamapardu' is the Warlpiri name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found throughout Warlpiri country. This country belongs to Nakamarra/Napurrurla women and Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. 'Pamapardu' are flying ants. They build earth mounds (‘mingkirri’) that are common in the Tanami area. When heavy rains come in summer the ‘mingkirri’ get flooded out, so the ‘pamapardu’ grow wings and fly off to make new homes, following their queens to dry mounds or to build a new. When they have found their new home they drop their wings. In this stage they can be collected, lightly cooked in coals and eaten. As they fall to the ground women collect them to eat because they are nice and sweet. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. When this Jukurrpa story is painted concentric circles are used to represent the ‘mingkirri’ and the rockholes involved in the story, including the central one at Wapurtali (Mt Singleton). Dashes are often depicted around the circles to represent the ‘pamapardu’.
Bernard Japanangka Watson was born in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. He is the nephew of the late Judy Napangardi Watson (1935-2016), a well-known artist at home and abroad. He has one sister, Alison Napanangka Watson who lives in Katherine, 320 km southeast of Darwin situated on the Katherine River. Bernard attended Yuendumu local school and when he finished school he visited many aboriginal communities before getting married. He has one daughter, Louise.
Bernard has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu since 2012. He paints his grandfather’s Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming), stories that relate directly to his land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. They were passed down to him by his parents and their parents before them for millennia. Bernard uses traditional iconology and an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of his traditional culture.
All paintings come with a certificate of authenticity provided by the community-run Aboriginal Art Centre, not us, which is the gold standard for ethical purchasing and documentation.
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This guarantee covers any disrepute or wrongdoing in association with the authenticity of any Aboriginal artwork ever sold by ART ARK®. We understand that purchasing authentic Aboriginal Art is important to you, and we want to provide you with peace of mind in knowing that you are getting what you expect.
We take the authenticity of Aboriginal Art seriously and are committed to providing you with high-quality and genuine works of art. If at any time you have any concerns whatsoever about the authenticity of any art piece, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will investigate further. If we find any wrongdoing or disrepute in regards to the provenance or authenticity of any artwork sold by us we will promptly provide a full refund to you at any time in the future, be it in one year, or in ten!
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All of our Desert Paintings, with the exception of the Stretched Desert Paintings Collection, are sent rolled.
Sending paintings rolled is the best option for their safe arrival and allows us to include free shipping, provide timely service, and maintain consistent and transparent pricing relating to the prices set by each Aboriginal Art centre.
The size of the painting listed relates to the painted surface. There is also a painted edge(2cm) and additional canvas for stretching.
A local framer will easily stretch the work for you at a nominal cost. Framers are everywhere and there is likely one just up the road. We recommend choosing one with good reviews and if you call ahead you will generally get a better-quoted price than if you turn up, painting in hand.
Please find further details and examples relating to framing here: https://artark.com.au/pages/how-to-frame-your-aboriginal-art
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