Ursula Napangardi Marks - Bush Potato Dreaming - Yarla Jukurrpa - 730/18

Regular price $4,400.00

Artist: Ursula Napangardi Marks

Title: Bush Potato Dreaming - Yarla Jukurrpaa

Cat No: 730/18

Size: 55 x 55 cm

Acrylic on Canvas, Stretched with Certificate of Authenticity

Story:

This dreaming tells about bush yams or potatoes. The trees are green all year round. When the flowers are on the tree the women know that the potatoes are ready to dig for. The women look for long, thin cracks along the ground, made from the vines of the potato plant. The women dig where the cracks are. The potatoes are deep in the ground, sometimes more than one meter deep. The women gather them in wooden dishes, called parraja in Warlpiri. Bush potatoes are cooked on the coals, and have a sweet taste.

Biography:

Ursula Napangardi is a younger artist following in the traditions of the Warlpiri people, who now live in small towns in the Tanami Desert. Napangardi’s art can be complex or very simple.  Her art depicts Jukurrpa (Dreaming stories, containing information about the creation of the landscape, knowledge of resources and Warlpiri law) or an aspect of Jukurrpa.  Her present works often feature white highlighting kurruwarri, or the sacred marks, which are painted on her body for ceremony.  Past works consist of bold confident lines and bright colours typical of artists in Lajamanu.  Her subjects were handed down to her from her grandparents and she is now a custodian of them. She is a lady who has been in the most important ceremonies for Warlpiri women, including her sons' and nephews' ceremonies.  Her art is informed not only by her personal cultural history, but also by working for 12 years with Warnayaka Artists such as Lily Nungarrayi Hargraves, Kitty Napanangka Simon and Rosie & Molly Napurrurla Tasman.Her works have been exhibited in Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane galleries as well as in America and London. In 2020 they were featured at the enormously successful DAAF online event and then at the Sydney Contemporary by Cooee Art Gallery.  Because of COVID this was also an online event.  The most recent exhibition a solo, has been at Suzanne O'Connell Gallery in Brisbane.

Share this Product


More from this collection