Pauline Nampijinpa Singleton, Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) - Ngarlikurlangu, 107x91cm

• Artist - Pauline Nampijinpa Singleton
• Community - Yuendumu
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 5356/17
• Materials - Acrylic on linen 
• Size(cm) - H91 W107 D2 
• Postage variants - Artwork is posted un-stretched and 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.

“Painting keeps me busy. I like doing painting. I like the stories and like the colour.” Pauline Nampijinpa Singleton was born in Alice Springs hospital and grew up in Yuendumu an Aboriginal settlement located 290 kms north west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. She attended the local school and then moved to Alice Springs to attend Yirara College. After finishing school she moved back to Yuendumu and has been painting with the Warlukurlangu Artists since 1999. She is very actively involved with the local Mt Theo Youth Program helping to take care of the kids. She has also worked with Warlpiri Media doing broadcasting for local language radio programs. Pauline is married and has two young children, Bradley and Ishmail who take up a lot of her time. Pauline Paints her mother’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. These stories were passed down to her by her mother and her mother’s mother before them for millennia. Pauline loves spending time visiting the country around Yuendumu and telling her kids the stories of this land. When she is painting she sometimes paints by herself and sometimes with her family. When Pauline is not working, looking after children or painting she likes to go hunting for bush tucker.