Goanna Dreamingby Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer

This deep blue and purple painting by Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer depicts the Dreaming of the Wardapi. The Wardapi Jukurrpa comes from an area to the east of Yuendumu called Yarumayi. It is a place important for its ochre deposits and as a site for collecting ceremonial stones. The custodians of the Wardapi Jukurrpa are women from the Nungurrayi/Napaljarri skin groups and men from the Jungurrayi/Japaljarri skin groups. The story tells of the return of the custodians of this Dreaming to collect ceremonial stones that represent the "Ngpiri" (Eggs) of the Wardapi ancestors in their ceremonies. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. This painting depicts Wardapi ancestors returning home to their sacred site. Concentric circles can illustrate Wardapi holes and the droppings they leave. The Wardapi tracks are usually represented by "W" or rounded shapes.

Artist:Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer
Title:Goanna Dreaming
ID:5335-16
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:61 x 30 cm
Region:Yuendumu, Central Australia

Artist

Rahab Nungarrayi Spencer is an artist from Yuendumu Community, located approximately 3 hours from Alice Springs in Central Australia. Rahab is a Warlpiri woman with the primary focus of her artworks based on her Jukurrpa (Dreaming) of Wardapi or Goanna. This Dreaming comes from an area east of Yuendumu Community called Yarumayi. It is a place of great significance for its ochre deposits and a place for collecting ceremonial stones.

Rahab’s artworks are quite colourful and vary in colour, size and presentation. At times she will use traditional Aboriginal iconography and symbols whilst in others her paintings become quite abstract. She has worked closely with Warlukurlangu – Artists of Yuendumu for a number of years and it is through them that her works are now featured in several galleries around Australia. Central Art is excited to be able to now feature her paintings through our website.

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