Snake Vine Dreamingby Geraldine Napangardi Granites

Ngalyipi Jukurrpa or Snake Vine Dreaming is associated with the country of Mount Nicker to the west of Yuendumu Community in Central Australia. The owners of this Dreaming are the Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women and the Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. Ngalyipi is a green creeper that climbs up the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs. The plant is found on sandy spinifex plains and sandhills. Snake Vine is frequently depicted in paintings due to it's many uses as a shoulder strap to carry coolamon. The plant also has many medicinal uses. The initiation ceremonies associated with the Ngalyipi Jukurrpa are for the sons and grandsons of the Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women dance at these ceremonies and then look away and block their ears when the men dance. This "Witi" ceremony is performed at night under the stars.

Artist:Geraldine Napangardi Granites
Title:Snake Vine Dreaming
ID:1775-17
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:61 x 30 cm
Region:Yuendumu, Central Australia

Artist

Geraldine Napangardi Granites comes from Yuendumu Community, approximately 300km from Alice Springs in Central Australia. Geraldine is the daughter of Alma Nungarrayi Granites, a well known artist for Warlukurlangu Artists in Yuendumu. Central Art also features some of Alma's artworks. Geraldine is also the granddaughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (sadly deceased) and Bessie Nakamarra Sims (also sadly deceased).

Geraldine has learnt to paint by observing her grandfather’s artworks as well as Judy Napangardi Watson’s paintings. Whilst she has only recently over the last few years started painting she is working on developing her own unique style of sharing Mina Mina Dreaming which is an important woman's ceremony story.

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