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This painting tells the story of a Jangala ‘watiya-warnu’ (Acacia tenuissima) ancestor who travelled south from a small hill called Ngurlupurranyangu to Yamunturrngu (Mount Liebig). As he travelled he picked the ‘watiya-warnu’ seeds and placed them in ‘parrajas’ (food carriers), one of which he carried on his head. Watiya-warnu is a seed bearing tree that grows in open spinifex or mulga country. When people returned to their camp after collecting the seeds they would make large windbreaks for shelter and winnow the seed in the late afternoon. Immature ‘watiya-warnu’ seed is ground into a paste and can be used to treat upset stomachs. The associated ‘watiya-warnu’ ceremony involves the preparation of a large ground painting. This Jukurrpa belongs to Nampijinpa/Nangala women and Jampijinpa/Jangala men. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. In paintings of this Dreaming ‘U’ shapes are often depicting women collecting the ‘watiya-warnu’ seeds. Oval shapes represent the ‘parrajas’ where they carry the seeds and strait lines beside them frequently portrait digging sticks.
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.
While every gallery can provide a certificate of authenticity, only those issued by community-run Aboriginal Art Centres ensure ethical purchasing and documentation. Any gallery can produce a certificate with an inkjet printer, but these do not guarantee ethical practices if they do not come from an Aboriginal community art centre. Alternate certificates are a big red flag. All of our paintings come with a certificate of authenticity provided by the community-run Aboriginal Art Centre, ensuring the gold standard for ethical purchasing.
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Please find more information on authenticity here: Aboriginal Art Authenticity
This painting arrives to us pre-stretched, allowing us to send it to you while maintaining consistent and transparent pricing related to the prices set by each Aboriginal art centre.
100% ready for your wall, this painting will look fabulous straight out of the box. If you would like to jazz it up further, we have been impressed by the quality of the ANKO float frames available at Target and Kmart. They are $11, and you can paint them or leave them as is. Plus, you get a canvas with them to create something of your own.
There are some other options out there but they are poorly made.
Please find further general details and examples relating to framing here: How to Frame Your Aboriginal Art
Your original artwork will arrive promptly, just as shown online—colour-accurate, carefully packed, and with an authenticity certificate from a community-based art centre. Plus, enjoy free insured delivery and a 120-day return policy for a confident, seamless, and ethical purchase.
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To keep pricing transparent, we deliver artworks as they come to us—unframed and priced in accordance with each art centre. Canvas and linen pieces are rolled for easy re-stretching at your local framer. Bark paintings and smaller items from our Stretched Desert Paintings collection arrive ready to hang. Watercolours should be framed behind glass, either custom or pre-made. Learn more about Framing Aboriginal Art.
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