Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert, Yanjirlpirri or Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Star or Seven Sisters Dreaming), 91x61cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert
• Community - Nyirripi  
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 484/21ny 
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H91 W61 D2
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa man ‘wardilyka’ (the bush turkey [Ardeotis australias]) who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnu and who represents the Orion's Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. The custodians of the Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa are Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. Some parts of the Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa are closely associated with men’s sacred ceremonies of a very secretive nature.

Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) tells of the journey of Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri (west of Yuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the West Australian border. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiation ceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the ‘kurdiji’. The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star) where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importance of this place cannot be overemphasized as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjanjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu to the north.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and other elements. Often depicted in paintings for this Jukurrpa is the female star Yantarlarangi (Venus - the Evening Star) who chases the seven Napaljarri sisters for having stolen the night from her.

Priscilla Napurrurla Herbert was born in 1977 in Alice Springs. She attended Yirara College, an aboriginal boarding college in Alice Springs. As a child she lived in Areyonga, west of Alice Springs with her mother. Her parents were separated when she was very young. After leaving school Priscilla worked for some time at Uluru. She met Lewis Moneymoon at Uluru and married him shortly after in Alice Springs. They live in Nyirripi and have one daughter born in 2007. Priscilla has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2010. Her country is Tanami Downs, until recently Mongrel Downs Station, located about 700 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. It was on Mongrel Downs that her Grandparents died and it is her father’s country and her father’s brother’s, “Uncle Ronnie Lawson’s”, country. Ronnie Lawson was the main spokesperson for the claimant group claiming traditional aboriginal ownership of Tanami Downs. Priscilla paints her father’s Ngurlu Jukurrpa, (Native Seed Dreaming), and Lukarrara Jukurrpa (Desert Fringe –rush Dreaming), stories which relate directly to her land, its features and animals. When Priscilla is not painting she likes to visit her Mother in Areyonga and her Aunty Jennifer and Uncle Colin in Alice Springs.