Paddy Japaljarri Stewart / Ngarlu Jukurrpa (Love Story Dreaming)
122cm x 91cm Acrylic on Linen Executed 2005
Our Price:
$4,200
Artwork Information
The Dreaming site of Miinypa or Yanyilingi is Ngarlu, meaning "red rock", country east of Yuendumu.
Jungarrayi man called Lintipilinti who lived at Ngarlu fell in love with a Napangardi woman, a tabu relation as the women was his skin mother in-law. This relation is forbidden to him under the Warlpiri skin system. Lintipilinti fell in love with the Napangardi women when he saw her. Lintipilinti was very impressed and aroused by her beauty and began to wonder how he could win the Napangardi. He went to Ngarlu and made hair string for her, singing as he worked.
Paddy has depicted the hair string spindel 'wirigy' by the 4 black shapes in the corners of this painting. The Napangardi women could not sleep and felt strange in her stomach, she felt sick. She realised that someone was singing for her. A little bird visited her every day taking Jungarrayi’s songs to her.
That bird can still be heard sometimes in the bush - It helps people find certain bush foods. It also talks to people when they are lonely, sad or in danger. Lines on the canvas represent the force of the song pulling the Napangardi women to Lintipilinti. When the two lovers met again and made love they turned to stone, as their relationship was tabu in Warlpiri skin system. The place where they turn to stone can still be seen at Ngarlu today.