Tanya Nungarrayi Collins, Mala Jukurrpa (Rufous Hare-wallaby Dreaming), 30x30cm

• Artist - Tanya Nungarrayi Collins
• Community - Yuendumu  
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation  
• Catalogue number - 3778/13
• Materials - Acrylic on pre-stretched canvas
• Size(cm) - H30 W30 D3.5
• Postage variants - Artwork posted stretched and ready to hang
• Orientation - Painted from all sides and OK to hang as wished

This story starts at Mawurrungu to the south-west of Yuendumu. The Mala Dreaming travels from there to Yinjirrimardi and then further on to Yanturnpuru and Jila, far to the west of Yuendumu. ‘Mala’ (rufous hare-wallaby [Lagorchestes hirsutus]) live in hollows dug under spinifex clumps. ‘Mala’ are difficult to hunt as they run very fast throughout their habitat in the spinifex country. In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In many painted versions of this story, men can be seen hunting for ‘mala’ among the spinifex with ‘karli’ (boomerangs) and ‘warlpa’ (spears). Men of the Jungarrayi, Japaljarri, Japanangka and Japangardi moiety are the ‘kirda’ (custodians) of this Jukurrpa while men of the Jangala, Jampijinpa, Jupurrurla and Jakamarra moiety are the ‘kurdungurlu’ (ceremonial police) of this Dreaming. The ceremony associated with this Dreaming is complementary to the Jardiwarnpa fire ceremony where the custodian and ceremonial police roles are reversed.

Tanya Nungarrayi Collins was born on 11 November 1975 in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km northwest of Alice Springs in the NT. She has one sister, Nancy, and one brother, Alan. Her grandparents lived in Mount Doreen, but moved to the Yuendumu community where her parents grew up. She is married to Steven Marshall, and has one son, Winston Japangardi.

Tanya attended Yirara College in Alice Springs, NT. She enjoyed doing reading and maths in college. After school, she worked for a number of different organizations in Yuendumu. These included the child care centre, the Yuendumu school kitchen, and as a School Attendance Officer (''yellow shirt''). When she is not painting, Tanya likes to hunt for kangaroo, perentie, witchetty grubs, and honey ants.

Tanya started painting a long time ago with her mother, who has since passed away. She painted 'ngurlu Jukurrpa' (seed Dreaming) with her mother. Today Tanya paints 'watiyawarnu Jukurrpa' (seed Dreaming). Her other Dreamings include 'marlu Jukurrpa' (kangaroo Dreaming) and 'witi Jukurrpa' (ceremonial pole Dreaming). Both of these Dreamings are located at Jila (Chilla Well), a claypan to the west of Yuendumu. These Dreamings were passed on to Tanya from her father.