This painting depicts designs associated with the
rockhole site of Umari, situated in sandhill country, east of Mt. Webb
in Western Australia. The lines represent sandhills.
A number of women gathered at this site to perform ceremonies. The women, one
of the Nangala kinship subsection and the others of the Napaltjarri kinship
subsection, later travelled towards the east. The roundel is a rockhole and
the shapes emanating from it show the edible berries the women gathered whilst
in the area.
One of the mythologies associated with the site concerns a relationship between
a man of the Tjakamarra kinship subsection and a woman of the Nangala kinship
subsection. This is a mother-in-law relationship which is very taboo in Aboriginal
culture.
PROVENANCE
Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd., Alice Springs, painted at Kintore
Catalogue Number TN0103224
Born at Rapalangya in Pintupi country north-west of Walungurru, Tjunkiya is
the mother of Mitjili Napurrula and second mother to Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula.
Tjunkiya moved to Haasts Bluff and then later to Papunya Tula when it was initially
established. She now lives at Walungurru.
REPRESENTED
Natoinal Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Museums & Art Galleries of the Northern Territory
