Walka wiru ngura wiru

$1,200.00

Walka wiru, ngura wiru (lovely country, lovely drawing). This painting is inspired by the sandy desert around the Tompkinson ranges of Pipalyatjara, Kalka, and Irrunytju communities. Alison Watson carries the Minyma Kutjara (Two Sisters) Tjukurrpa; one of the most important women’s stories of the Western and Southern deserts and a special story for Irrunytju. It tells the story of the difficult journey of two sisters who travelled throughout these vast lands. The story is one that has been told many times through inma and painting. The places where the sisters travelled and rested can be traced through the desert; their actions often created landmarks, rock holes and mountain ranges. Near Irrunytju the sisters sat on two hills and made hair belts in preparation for important women’s business. Here they threw their wana (digging stick) creating Wana Wani rock hole.

Alison Watson was born in the bush at Munar near Kaltukatjara (Docker River), in the Peterman Rangers, a significant site for the Minyma Kutjara (Two Sisters) Tjukurrpa. Alison grew up In Irrunytju (Wingellina) Community and is a senior artist for the Minyma Kutjara Arts Project. As a young girl Alison would watch her two nanas, Nora Brown and Anmanari Brown, painting the Minyma Kutjara story.