Flying Ant Dreamingby Maria Nampijinpa Brown

The painting depicts the Pampardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) from Wapurtali, west of Yuendumu. Pamapardu is the Warlpiri name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found through Warlpiri country in Central Australia. This country belongs to Nakamarra/Napurrula women and Jakamarra/Jupurrula men. The Flying Ants build earth mounds ('Mingkirri') that are common in the Tanami area. When heavy rains come in summer the Mingkirri get flooded out, so the 'ants grow wings and fly off to make new homes, following their queens to dry mounds or to build new ones. When they have found their new home they drop their wings. In this stage they can be collected, lightly cooked in coals and eaten. As they fall to the ground women collect them to eat because they are nice and sweet. When this Jukurrpa story is painted concentric circles are used to represent the Mingkirri and the rock-holes involved in the story, including the central one at Wapurtali (Mt.Singleton). Dashes are often depicted around the circles to represent the Flying Ants.