Kirritji

$6,100.00

Nancy-lu watjarnu, ‘Ngayuku tjamu pitjangu-ya rungkarnu nyinarranyangka.  

‘Pitjangu Tingarrilu rungkarnu nyangka tjarra makukurraarnu. Nyangka rungkarnu wanarnu mapunkatjingarnu. Purrkulunya ngayuku tjamu rungkarnu-ya punkatjingarnu. Waru-ya kurrkaltjunu. Warungka tjarrpatjunu piirrpungkulanytjaya tjakurapirinypa. Piirrpungu-ya paarnu ngalangu. Tali nyarranya. 

‘Wiya Tjungupilu-rni watjarnu, “Nyuntuku tjamuku ngurra. Palyala tjiinya ngayuku-limpa tjamuku ngurra Kirritjinya Patjarrta ngamu ngarala.”’ 

Nancy Jackson told a story about her grandfather, known as Purrkulu. He was travelling through the sandhill country when he was pursued by the Tingarri men. 

‘The Tingarri men came and threw spears and boomerangs at him, and he turned into a sand dune and came out and they chased him and killed him. My grandfather, they made a fire, put him on the fire, skinned him like a great desert skink and they ate him. That sandhill is still there now, that’s his mark. 

‘Nancy Tjungupi Carnegie told me, “That’s your grandfather’s place; you do the painting. That’s our grandfather’s place, Kirritji near Patjarr.”’ 

From a conversation with the artist, Nancy Nyanyarna Jackson, May 2025, interpreted, transcribed and translated by Cynthia Burke. 

Nancy Nyanyarna Jackson began painting with Warakurna Artists around the time of its inception in 2005. Her paintings often depict the Tali or sandhill formations of her country. Her country is located close to the community of Patjarr and she was born in the bush at a site called Kirritji, her grandfather’s traditional country. Nancy is a senior cultural woman in Warakurna community and is respected and trusted for her knowledge of country and Tjukurrpa. Her artworks are ambitious in size and scope and continue to play a pivotal cultural role in community.