Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer, Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) - Yarripilangu, 61x46cm

This painting depicts a ‘wardapi Jukurrpa’ (sand monitor/goanna [Varanus gouldii] Dreaming). This dramatic Jukurrpa travels between Purturlu (Mount Theo), approximately 150kms north-northwest of Yuendumu, and Yarripilangu (Newhaven), which is approximately 100kms southwest of Yuendumu. This painting focuses on the portion of the Jukurrpa that takes place at Yarripilangu, which is owned by Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men. The portion of the Jukurrpa at Purturlu belongs to Napanangka/Napangardi women and Japanangka/Japangardi men.

This Jukurrpa tells the story of a Japangardi man named Wamaru who lived at Jarrardajarrayi, an area of country near Purturlu. This Japangardi man lived at Jarrardajarrayi near a soakage called Juntangkalpa. He travelled south to Yarripilangu and approached a group of ‘karnta’ (women) that were sitting down in a circle there. He wanted to woo a Nungarrayi woman named Yurlkurinyi who was the wrong skin for him. By tribal law, this woman was his mother-in-law and their relationship would be taboo.

The Japangardi man wooed the Nungarrayi woman and they went up the hill at Yarripilangu where they made love. The earth there turned to ‘ngunjungunju’ (white ochre) and the man turned himself and all the ‘karnta’ (women) into ‘wardapi’ (goannas). The Japangardi man eventually brought the Nungarrayi woman back to Purturlu to live, even though they were the wrong skin for each other.

White ochre is still found on top of the hill at Yarripilangu and is used today for love magic and for ceremonial decoration. There’s also a cave where you can see the shape of a goanna entering. There are beautiful groundwater springs on the east side of the Yarripilangu hill. A number of important Jukurrpa associated with mens’ initiation ceremonies pass through Yarripilangu; these include ‘karnta Jukurrpa’ (womens’ Dreaming), ‘ngalyipi Jukurrpa’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina] Dreaming), ‘wati-jarra Jukurrpa’ (two men Dreaming), and ‘witi Jukurrpa’ (ceremonial pole Dreaming).

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites, and other elements. In paintings of this Jukurrpa, the group of women is often represented by concentric circles and ‘U’ shapes. Concentric circles can also illustrate ‘wardapi’ holes and the droppings they leave, while ‘wardapi’ tracks are usually represented by ‘W’ shapes.

Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer was born in 1967 in Amoongana, an Aboriginal community 15 kms south-east of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Just after Rahab was born her family moved to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs. She has three brothers, Edgar, Jacob and Lloyd and a younger sister Ruth. Both her parents have passed away. Rahab attended Yuendumu School before going to Yirara College, a boarding college in Alice Springs. She returned to Yuendumu after she finished school and worked in the local shop. She later married ‘a white fella”, Warren Freeman. She has three sons, her two eldest sons are married and her youngest son loves footie and plays for Yuendumu Magpies. Her three sons are from a previous relationship. She has one daughter from her marriage to Warren. She also has three grandchildren. Rahab has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yurndumu, since 2007. She mainly paints her father’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which related directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. These stories were passed down to her by her father and mother and their parents before them for millennia. Rahab uses traditional iconography and likes to use Aboriginal colours, that is red, black and yellow, while developing a modern individualist style to depict her traditional Jukurrpa. When Rahab is not painting she loves to cook and clean her house.