Lot 112

Maruku Arts, Northern Territory (accompanied by a copy of the certificate of authenticity)
Private collection, Melbourne

"Paintings depict the Tjukurpa, the Law and stories of Ancestors. Anangu (Central and Western Desert Aboriginal people) have responsibilities for the protection and teaching of different Tjukurpa and there are strict protocols for the imparting of knowledge. The dotting technique has evolved with the need to adapt sacred expressions of Tjukurpa for the public viewing and as a depiction of the desert landscape.

The Piltati Tjkurpa belongs to the ranges in far northern South Australia. It tells of two women, who set out hunting and gradually draw further and further away from home. They dig burrow after burrow hoping to find small game. Their husbands follow them and transform into Wanampi, water snakes, to lie in wait for their wives.

'Wati nyanga pula kutjara Wanampi nyinara, wangkara, wangkara, wananingi minyma kutjara tjwara tjwara tjarpantja.' (These two men, the Water Serpents, were sitting and talking about following the two women and how they had been digging and digging before they reentered the earth).

Mr Baker says the top part of the painting shows the numerous burrows dug by the women and in the very corner is Piti Atatjara, the place their husbands caught up with them. The brown line is the path the serpents took as they carried their women off to Piltati where they remained. The section below shows the Wanampi coming out of his burrow to catch a kangaroo and the numerous burrows and tracks where they lived and hunted."

As stated on the Maruku Arts certificate of authenticity

© Jimmy Baker/Copyright Agency 2024