Bessie Nakamarra Sims, The Mukaki Jukurrpa (wild plum Dreaming), 30.5x30.5cm

• Artist - Bessie Nakamarra Sims
• Community - Yuendumu
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 294-11
• Materials - Acrylic on pre-stretched canvas 
• Size(cm) - H30.5 W30.5 D3.5 
• Postage variants - Artwork is posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping.

The Mukaki Jukurrpa (wild plum [Santalum lanceolatum] Dreaming) tells of the journey of a group of heroic ‘mukaki’ ancestors from Wirlki to Yiwinji. Another place, Watungurra, near Nyirrpi and about 160 km south-west from Yuendumu is also associated with this story. The site painted in this story belongs to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men and Napurrurla/Nakamarra women. ‘Mukaki’ (wild plum fruit) are picked when they have been dried by the sun. They can then be ground with added water to make a paste. Traditionally women would gather 'mukaki' and squeeze the juice into food carriers to drink. The ripe black plums would also be used as paint, for body decoration and ground painting. In the past people would apply the juice to their skin to make themselves darker. The ‘mukaki’ are also eaten by the possums. In paintings of this Dreaming, often concentric circles are used to represent the trees themselves ('watiya') while curved lines are usually used to depict the root ('yartura') and clusters of small circles can portrait the flowers ('jinjirla'). Normally unripe ‘mukaki’ are painted as green.

" I like painting cause it's my Dreaming - Bush Carrot, Yam Dreaming…From my father and grandfather's side. I like to teach kids my Dreaming. I want everyone to know my Dreaming from all over the world. I know and they can know…" Bessie Nakamarra Sims was born in the bush in the 1930s and lived for many years before coming into contact with white people at Mt. Doreen Station, west of Yuendumu. She lived in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia, where she died in 2012. Bessie was the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec), a renowned artist both nationally and internationally who painted with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation for a long time, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. Bessie did not live in her famous husband’s shadow, for her own work has long been widely admired and collected. Bessie has seven children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bessie was one of the most valued members of the Warlukurlangu Artists Community. She painted consistently with Warlukurlangu Artists since the centre was first established in 1985 and has exhibited both nationally and internationally in Group Exhibitions since 1986.She painted her Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Besides painting Bessie was an active member of Yuendumu Night patrol which helps keep Yuendumu a safe community. In her spare time she used to loved hunting for wardapi (goanna) and bush tucker such as yarla (bush potato) and yakajirri (bush tomato).

She passed away in Yuendumu May 2012 surrounded by her extended family. Some of her last words were: "Japaljarri"(her husband) is calling me, he is waiting for me"

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