Frank Japanangka, Wati Jarra (Two Men Dreaming), 30.5x30.5cm

The Wati Jarra Jukurrpa (two men Dreaming) belongs to Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. The painting depicts the journey of a father and son performing initiation ceremonies for young men. Both men and women executed ceremonies as part of the young men's initiation ceremony.The men dragged heavy bushes from the sites of Purrpalala,Yanjirlpiri In this site there is a low hill and a water soakage. The men wear ‘jinjirla’ (feathers) on both sides of their heads. They also wear wooden carving of stars which are also laid out on the ground as part of the sand paintings produced for ‘kurlkurlpa’ (business). Their bodies are painted with white and black circles, representing stars. The ‘witi’ poles (ceremonial spears) are tied to the legs of the young initiates. ‘Ngalyipi’ (snake vine) is collected and used to tie the ‘witi’ poles to the legs of the initiates or vertically to the shins of the dancing initiates. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In paintings of this Dreaming, concentric circles are often used to represent the ‘yanjirlpiri’ (stars) painted in the men’s bodies while strait lines are frequently used to represent the ‘witi’ poles.

Born 'in the bush' near Yuelamu in the 1920's, Frank (or Franky) Japanangka is keeper of the Yuelamu site and a leading figure in the Mt Allan community. Yuelamu is approximately 70 km from Yuendumu and is located on the site of the old Mount Allan Pastoral lease. His daughters Carol Napangardi Frank (Dec) and Peggy Nampijinpa Brown, who was the recipient of the Order of the Australia Medal (2007) for her work in the successful Yuendumu Petrol sniffing program, and several of his nieces whom he raised are also painters with Warlukurlangu Artists. Frank Japanangka worked as a stockman in earlier years. An Anmatyerre speaker, his country is Yuelamu and he paints for that country. In recent years, he has withdrawn more from community politics to reside mainly on the outstation at Yulyipinyu, close to the western boundary of Mt Allan. Before retiring Frank did not paint a great deal but since retiring from community politics Frank has time to paint and has been painting consistently with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed Art Centre located in Yuendumu, since 2008. He paints several dreamings but the one that features regularly are Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), depicting Puyuru, a site west of Yuendumu; Karnta jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming) depicting a sacred site; and Janganpa Jukurrpa (Bush-tail Possum Dreaming), depicting his country, its features and the animals and plants that live on the land.