Mitchell Japanangka Martin / Mina Mina Dreaming (2246-21ny)

Artwork is accompanied by Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendumu) Art Centre Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance 

Mitchell grew up in Nyirripi and then lived in Kintore from 2005 – 2017, where he often saw people painting. Mitchell completed his first painting with Warlukurlangu Artists in Nyirripi, looking at the work of his Great Great Grandfather Paddy Japanangka Lewis who painted the same Mina Mina Jukkurpa. Mitchell remembers seeing Paddy paint when he lived with him in Yuendumu as a child.

Mitchell loves Footy and plays fullback in Nyirripi, he also likes to fix old cars, any sort. Mitchell is waiting to visit his country a long way away.

Mina Mina is the area or country this painting is depicting. It is far west of Yuendumu and is very important to the Napangardi / Napanangka women. These women and their Japangardi / Japanangka brothers, are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. This story (Dreaming) tells of the journey of a group of women who travelled east gathering food, ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they journeyed.

The ‘ngalyipi’ vine grows up the trunks and branches of the ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak trees). ‘Ngalyipi’ is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry ‘parrajas’ (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker and as a bandage for headaches.

The women began their travels at Mina Mina where ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these tools the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their travels took them eventually further than Warlpiri country. The women used the karlangu to gather bush tucker on their travels.