Brenda Punytjina Armstrong / Honey Grevillea Dreaming (2375-20ny)

‘Kaliny-kalinypa’ or ‘ultukunpa’ is a Pitjantjatjara word for the honey grevillea flower. This plant grows in sandy soils on the spinifex plains and on sandhills. It is very tolerant to fire, and produces beautiful yellow flowers at the end of its branches after rain. ‘Kaliny-kalinypa’ nectar is a delicacy for many Aboriginal people. One can suck the nectar directly from the flowers, or strike the flower against the palm of one’s hand to gather the nectar, which can then be licked off. ‘Kaliny-kalinypa’ flowers can also be picked and soaked in a billycan of water to create ‘honeywater’ (cordial). Morning is the best time to gather the nectar from these plants.

In this painting, Brenda depicts the Dreaming of her maternal grandmother, Ruby Williamson. This ‘kaliny-kalinypa’ Dreaming comes from Pukara, a ‘kapi tjukula’ (rockhole, waterhole) southwest of Wingellina community in Western Australia. Pukara is her grandmother’s grandfather’s country. Here women dance and perform ‘inma’ (ceremonies) to increase the amount of nectar in the ‘kaliny-kalinypa’ flowers. Two rainbow serpents live in the waterhole at Pukara, which is why her paintings of this area are so colourful.

Both Brenda and her grandmother Ruby are Anangu people from Amata community in South Australia, approximately 115km south of Uluru (Ayers Rock).