Goanna Dreamingby Tess Napaljarri Ross

This Goanna Dreaming comes from Yarripilangku, south-west of Yuendumu Community in Central Australia. It tells the story of a group of women that were sitting down 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 group, a Nungarrayi. He took the Nungarrayi woman, named Yurlkurinyi and went up the hill where they made love. Then the earth turned yellow and white ochre and the man turned himself and all the women into Wardapi's (Goannas). Ochre is still found on top of this hill today and is used for love magic and for ceremonial decoration.

Artist:Tess Napaljarri Ross
Title:Goanna Dreaming
ID:332-14
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:30 x 30 cm
Region:Yuendumu, Central Australia

Artist

Tess Napaljarri Ross was born on a cattle station close to Yuendumu Community approximately 300km from Alice Springs in Central Australia. She was named Daisy but goes by Tess. Sadly her father passed away shortly after the family moved to Yuendumu and her mother remarried. Her step-father, Larry Jungarrayi Spencer was one of the artists who painted the Yuendumu Doors and taughter her patterns and designs of Yarri Pirlangu. Tess studied as a teacher and has been active in working in the local school ensuring that Warlpiri culture and language is maintained.

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