Stephen Jakamarra Walker, Pirlarla Jukurrpa (Dogwood Tree Bean Dreaming), 76x46cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Stephen Jakamarra Walker
• Community - Yuendumu
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 2002/20
• Materials - Acrylic on linen
• Size(cm) - H76 W46 D2
• Postage variants - This work is posted rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This story of the Pirlarla Jukurrpa (dogwood tree bean Dreaming) comes from the country near to the Yiningnarra range, south of Rabbit Flat and several hundred kilometers to the north-west of Yuendumu. This Jukurrpa travels west and begins near Yumurrpa. There, women of the Napurrula/Nakamarra subsection travelled and collected the ‘pirlarla’ (seeds and pods) of the ‘wakirlpirri’ (dogwood [Acacia coriacea]) tree, a valuable and highly prized food source. In the hot summer time the ‘pirlarla’ seed pods are collected, burnt in a fire and then cracked open. The seeds inside the pods are then ground up and make a good food. The juice from the seeds is also edible. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. In paintings of this Jukurrpa the representative designs that are painted onto women's bodies during their Yawulyu ceremonies are often shown. The custodians of the Pirlarla Jukurrpa are Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men and Nakamarra/Napurrurla women.

Stephen Jakamarra Walker lives in the remote indigenous community of Yuendumu on the Tanami Desert of Central Australia. The community is located 300 kms north-west of Alice Springs. He has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists since 2017. He is the eldest son of Liddy Napanangka Walker who was one of the founding artists of the art centre in Yuendumu.  Stephen paints the stories that were passed down to him from his mother and his ancestors.