Geraldine Nangala Gallagher, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 122x76cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Geraldine Nangala Gallagher
• Community - Nyirripi  
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 2913/18ny
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H122 W76 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This particular site of the Yankirri Jukurrpa, (emu Dreaming [Dromaius novaehollandiae]) is at Ngarlikurlangu, north of Yuendumu. The ‘yankirri’ travelled to the rockhole at Ngarlikurlangu to find water. This Jukurrpa story belongs to Jangala/Jampijinpa men and Nangala/Nampijinpa women. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. Emus are usually represented by their ‘wirliya’ (footprints), arrow-like shapes that show them walking around Ngarlikurlangu eating ‘yakajirri’ (bush raisin [Solanum centrale]). In the time of the Jukurrpa there was a fight at Ngarlikiurlangu between a ‘yankirri’ ancestor and Wardilyka (Australian bustard [Ardeotis australis]) ancestors over sharing the ‘yakajirri’. There is also a dance for this Jukurrpa that is performed during initiation ceremonies.

Geraldine Nangala Gallagher comes from Nyirripi, a remote Aboriginal community located approx. 440 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She began painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation; an Aboriginal owned and governed Art Centre, in 2010. Warlukurlangu Artists is located in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Since 2005 Warlukurlangu has dropped off canvas and paint for artists in Nyirripi. Geraldine continued to paint through the art centre until 2013, when she moved to Alice Springs.

Geraldine mainly paints her parent’s  Jukurrpa, in particular Watiya-warnu Jukurrpa (Seed Dreaming)and Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming). These dreamings relate directly to the land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. They were passed down to her parents and their parents before them for millennia.  Geraldine uses traditional designs and icons with an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.