Deborah Napangardi Williams, Wanakiji Jukurrpa (Bush Tomato Dreaming), 61x46cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Deborah Napangardi Williams
• Community - Nyirripi
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 2844/20ny
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas
• Size(cm) - H61 W46 D2 
• Postage variants - Artwork is posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides OK to hang as wished

The Wanakiji Jukurrpa (bush tomato [Solanum chippendalei] Dreaming) travels through Yaturlu (near Mount Theo, north of Yuendumu). “Wanakiji” grows in open spinifex country and is a small, prickly plant with purple flowers that bears green fleshy fruit with many small black seeds. After collecting the fruit the seeds are removed with a small wooden spoon called ‘kajalarra’. The fruit then can be eaten raw or threaded onto skewers called ‘turlturrpa’ and then cooked over a fire. ‘Wanakiji’ can also be skewered and left to dry. When they are prepared in this way it is called ‘turlturrpa’ and the fruit can be kept for a long time. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. The Wanakiji Jukurrpa belongs to Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men.

Deborah Lives in Nyirripi; a small community located 160 km North West of Yuendumu, she has 4 children. Most of the time Deborah is busy raising her children, in her free time she is keen on painting. She paints stories passed down to her by her father and mother, one of the main stories that she paints is associated to the collection of seed by the women. The collection of bush tucker and hunting is a tradition that has been carry on through generations and continues in the present.