Judy Watson Napangardi

Judy Watson was born at Yarungkanji on Mount Doreen Cattle Station in the Northern Territory, Australia. Her people, the Walpiri, were living a traditional nomadic life at that time. They frequently made long journeys by foot to their ancestral country on the border of the Tanami and Gibson Deserts, and lived at Mina Mina and Yingipurlangu at different times. She had ten children.

Napangardi's paintings are influenced by the Dreamings associated with the Women's country at Mina Mina. Just was taught painting by her elder sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson.  She painted alongsider her at Warlukurlangu artists for a number of years, developing her own unique style.The potent life force within these stories is evoked in Napangardi's use of colour, and richly textured, drag-dotting style which traces the sinuous lines of dancing women on Country. Napangardi Watson was a widely acclaimed and highly visible artist. She divided her time between Yuendumu where she painted for the Warlukulangu art centre, and Alice Springs.

She is at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa by Warlpiri artists; however her works retain a strong kurruwarri, which tell of the sacredness of place and song in her culture.

Judy Napangardi Watson has been exhibiting artwork since 1990 throughout Australia & around the world; including exhibitions in England, USA, China, Japan and The Netherlands.

Her works are featured in several major collections.

Royalties from these products directly benefit the artist and their community – www.warlu.com

ABOUT THE ARTWORK – THE PAINTING – MINA MINA JUKURRPA (MINA MINA DREAMING) – NGALYIPI

The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, Australia; which is significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women, the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area.

The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (Tinospora smilacina or snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where Karla-ngu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground.

Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites.

Their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country.

The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (Desert Oak, Allocasuarina decaisneana) trees.

Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to the Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses, including as a ceremonial wrap; as a strap to carry Parrajas (wooden bowls) laden with bush tucker; and as a torniquet for headaches.