Warlukurlangu Warlu Snakevine Dreaming 150 cm Cotton Fabric Blue

Create delightful textile projects with the Warlukurlangu Warlu Snakevine Dreaming 150 cm Cotton Fabric. This fabric includes authentic hand painted Indigenous Australian art created by artist Kirsty Anne Napanangka Martin and has been printed onto a 100% cotton canvas base. This sturdy and versatile fabric may be used for DIY furnishing projects, tote bags, aprons and more. Specific details of the story and iconography of this artwork are highlighted below:

This 'ngalyipi Jukurrpa' (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina] Dreaming) comes from Mina Mina. Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and Napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border. The area has a 'marluri' (salt lake or claypan) that is usually dry, without water. There are also a number of 'mulju' (soakages), sandhills, and a large stand of 'kurrkara' (desert oaks). The Mina Mina Jukurrpa is an important source of Warlpiri ritual knowledge and social organization, particularly relating to the different roles performed by men and women.

The 'kirda' (owners) of this Jukurrpa are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. There are a number of different Jukurrpa associated with Mina Mina - artists usually choose to depict one particular Jukurrpa in their paintings. In addition to 'ngalyipi' (snakevine), these can include 'karnta' (women), 'karlangu' (digging sticks), 'majardi' (hairstring skirts/tassels), 'kurrkara' (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]), and 'jintiparnta' (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]).

The Mina Mina Jukurrpa tells the story of a group of ancestral 'karnta' (women) who traveled from west to east. In the Dreamtime, these ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and 'karlangu' (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. They collected these digging sticks and started travelling to the east. They carried their digging sticks over their shoulders and they were adorned with 'majardi' (hairstring belts), white feathers, and necklaces made from 'yinirnti' (bean tree [Erythrina vespertilio]) seeds. They continuously anointed themselves with 'minyira' (shiny fat) to increase their ritual powers as they went along. As the women travelled, they were followed by a 'yinkardakurdaku' (spotted nightjar [Eurostopodus argus]) from the Jakamarra subsection. The bird would call out and then hide in the bushes behind them as they travelled.

When the women danced at Mina Mina, they created a large dust cloud that swept up the 'walyankarna' (snake ancestors). The 'walyankarna' had previously transformed can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites, and other elements. In paintings of this Jukurrpa, sinuous lines are used to represent the 'ngalyipi' (snakevine). Concentric circles are often used to represent the 'jintiparnta' (desert truffles) that the women have collected, while straight lines can be used to depict the 'karlangu' (digging sticks).