Pikilyi Jukurrpaby Julie Napaljarri Dempsey

Pikilyi is a large and important waterhole and natural spring near Mount Doreen Station in Central Australia. Pikilyi Jukurrpa (Vaughan Springs Dreaming) tells of the home of two rainbow serpents, ancestral heroes who lived together as man and wife. The woman 'rainbow serpent' was of the Napanangka skin group, the man was a Japangardi. This is a taboo relationship contrary to Warlpiri religious law. Women of the Napanangka and Napangardi subsection sat by the two serpents, picking lice from them. For this service, the two serpents allowed the women to take water from the springs at Pikilyi. This was because the serpents were the 'Kirda', or ceremonial owners, for that country. The spirits of these two rainbow serpents are still at Pikilyi today.

Artist:Julie Napaljarri Dempsey
Title:Pikilyi Jukurrpa
ID:3171-17
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:30 x 30 cm
Region:Papunya, Central Australia

Artist

Julie Napaljarri Dempsey was born in 1975 and comes from Papunya Community located in Central Australia. Julie is from the Warlpiri tribe and is related to Eunice Napangardi who is a world renowned Aboriginal artist. Julie is passionate about her culture and heritage and uses her unique and colourful double dot art style to depict her Dreamings such as Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs Dreaming).

Julie works with Warlukurlangu Art Centre which is located in Yuendumu Community approximately 300km from Alice Springs in Central Australia.

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