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Ngiyari (Thorny Devil) Tjukurpa

Rolley Mintuma, Trudy Brumby, Dulcie Moneymoon, Elfreda Tjiweri, Helen Tjukintja, Janet Herbert, Joyce Tjalyiri, Naomi Nipper, Petalee Moneymoon, Pixie Brown, Priscilla Herbert, Raelene Wilson, Rita Okai, Rosemary Andrews Moneymoon, Roslyn Brumby, Sarissa Brumby, Theresa Nipper
Wire framework, recycled materials, plaster and synthetic polymer paint
98.5 x 167 x 134 cm
Walkatjara Art
WAL03-23

$9,945.00

This is Ngiyari (Thorny Devil) Tjukurpa, my Tjukurpa story. I give permission for it to be told. So having gone into the shade of kaliny-kalinypa (honey grevillea) bush, that Ngiyari stood and stood. He’s using the sweetness to make the ants come near. He sees some really big ants and his tongue starts coming out. He fills up with those big ants. He’s holding all the ants in his mouth with his tongue, then swallows them. Next, he regurgitates the ants and holds them with his tongue in a funny way and swallows them again. After he’s filled his stomach up with ants, he finds shade again and goes to sleep. When he gets hungry again, he finds more ants using kaliny-kalinypa to lure them in. Rowley Mintuma, as told to Kiana Bellman and Pixie Brown Everybody loves the Ngiyari, the kids love taking him home. They find him on the main roads, because he’s crazy and he doesn’t think about cars on the road. The walawuru (eagle) comes over, it dives down and grabs the Ngiyari but they are sharp so they leave it and drop it and he keeps walking. Joyce Tjalyiri

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