Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer

ROYALTIES PAID

COATED INK ON HEMATITE

Artwork: Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) Yarrpurlangu

Story:

This Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) comes from Yarripurlangu, south-west of Yuendumu. It tells the story of a group of Karnta (Warlpiri women) that were sitting in a circle. A man from Mt. Theo, of the Japangardi skin group named Wamaru, came up to the women. He wanted to take a girl of the wrong skin, a Nungarrayi.
He took the Nungarrayi women, named Yurlkurinyi, and went up the hill where they made love.
Then the earth turned to Ngunjungunju (yellow and white ochre) and the man turned himself and all the women into ‘wardapi’ (goannas).
The ochre is still found on top of the hill and is used today for love magic and for ceremonial decoration.