Artwork is accompanied by Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendumu) Art Centre Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance
Margie Leo was born in the hospital in Alice Springs NT in 1975. Soon after her birth she returned to the remote community of Yuendumu where her large, extended family live. Yuendumu is located 300kms north west of Alice Springs on the Tanami Road. Margie grew up there, where she attended the local school.
Margie has been painting for Warlukurlangu Artists since 2011. Her paintings tell the creation stories that have been passed down to her from her ancestors. They describe the landscape and animals that are found in her traditional lands.
This Dreaming (Jukurrpa) belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush) is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘ngatinyanu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten.
In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed bearing grass Lukurrara.
