Wirrimanu (Balgo)

1999

Balgo Women (Tjemma Freda Napanangka, ca. 1930–2004; Margaret Anjulle, born 1946; Patricia Lee Napangarti, born 1960; Mati Mudgidell, ca. 1935–2002; Lucy Yukenbarri, 1934–2003; Eubena Nampitjin, born ca. 1920)

Australian Aboriginal, Kukatja, Wangkajunga, and Warlpiri peoples, Balgo (Wirrimanu), Kimberley/Western Desert, Western Australi

Six women sat together to paint this vision of their country, shaped by Luurnpa (the Kingfisher) who created features of the landscape. Luurnpa is regarded as the keeper of the law and his influence spreads from Balgo to Uluru (Ayers Rock). In this painting, he creates with significant creeks, which meander around the outside. He put his beak into the ground to create waterholes for them (seen as circles). People (U-shapes) walked to gather food (footprints) and were especially pleased when they found a rich vein of potatoes (elongated brown ovals).

--Pam McClusky, Curator of African and Oceanic Art, 2012

Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

47 5/8 x 116 1/8 in. (121 x 295 cm)

Gift of Margaret Levi and Robert Kaplan

2019.20.12

Provenance: [Coo-ee Aboriginal Gallery, Sydney, Australia]; Margaret Levi and Robert Kaplan, Seattle, Washington, 2000

Photo: iocolor, Seattle

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Ancestral Modern: Australian Aboriginal Art from the Kaplan & Levi Collection, May 31 - Sept. 12, 2012 (Nashville, Tenessee, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, June 23 - Oct. 15, 2017; Madison, Wisconsin, Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin, Jan. 26 - Apr. 22, 2018; Austin, Texas, Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas, June 3 - Sept. 9, 2018; Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, Audain Art Museum, Oct. 5, 2018 - Jan. 28, 2019). Text by Pamela McClusky, Wally Caruana, Lisa Graziose Corrin, and Stephen Gilchrist. No cat. no., p. 146, reproduced pl. 2.

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