Two brother (south-west of Jarra Jarra)

$4,250.00

That’s the one south-west of Jarra Jarra outstation. That one went through Willowra. It’s them two blokes, brothers, both Japaljarris. I can show you out there. When you’re out there I can tell you which hill you’re meant to touch and which hill you can’t. Our way. 

Those are those same two men who were chased by that devil-devil. They walked out from these hills and the young brother found a man’s arm and they knew there was one cannibal man around, man-eater, devil-devil. He showed that arm to the big brother. That young brother told the big brother, ‘We need to be aware for that evil person, that devil is around, eating people’. And then they was walking side by side to that place west of here and they seen him. They find that devil-devil and they chase him out, right out west of Lander Creek. The devil-devil came to meet them up to fight them, but he was too late. The big brother threw a spear right through that devil-devil’s heart and the little brother thew a spear right through his thigh. 

This is not a secret one, this is just a story one. We need to tell it. Even women used to tell that same story. This story is my grandmother’s, she is the one who told me, when I was a little fella. She used to tell me that story on the ground, in that sand. And I’ve been keeping that story and now I am painting that story and sharing that story.  

Ned Kelly Jungarrayi was born at Barrow Creek in 1944 and grew up between Wauchope, Kurundi Station and Hatches Creek before moving to Ali Curung, then Warrabri, in the 1950s.Though he had painted in Ampilatwatja in the past, he took up painting in Ali Curung in 2024, at the age of 79. Ned Kelly has been an active advocate for land and water rights around Ali Curung and Jarra Jarra throughout his life, working closely with the Central Land Council, Arid Lands Environment Centre and Running Water Community Press. Ned Kelly made his painting debut at Desert Mob 2024, where two of his paintings were acquired by Artbank.