Paddy Japaljarri Sims, born 1916, NGARLKIRDI JUKURRPA (WITCHETTY GRUB DREAMING)

synthetic polymer paint on linen
bears artist's name and Warlurkurlangu Artists catalogue number 44/89 on the reverse
213 BY 90.5CM

Provenance:
Painted at Yuendumu in 1989
Warlukurlangu Artists, Yuendumu
Donald Kahn Collection

Exhibited:
Aboriginal Art from the Collection of Donald Kahn, Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Florida, 1991; Carolino Augusteum Museum, Salzburg, The Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Naprstkovo Museum, Prague and The Museum of Ethnology, Warsaw during 1992-1993 Dreamings - Tjukurrpa: Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert, The Donald Kahn Collection, Museum Villa Stuck, Munich, 26 July-16 October 1994 Australian Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert- The Donald Kahn Collection, Fruit Market Gallery, Edinburgh, 3 December 1994-28 January 1995
Desert Dreaming: Australian Aboriginal Art, Albertina, Vienna June 15-August 26 2007

Literature:
Geoffrey Bardon and Vivien Johnson, Australian Aboriginal Art from the Collection of Donald Kahn, Miami: Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, 1991, p.53, cat.no.22 (iIlus.), p.78
Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker (ed.), Dreamings - Tjukurrpa: Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert, The Donald Kahn Collection, Munich: Prestel Verlag, 1994, p.26, cat.no.22 (black and white illus.), pp.114-115 (colour illus.)

This painting is sold with an accompanying Warlukurlangu Artists certificate that reads in part: 'This painting depicts Napaljarri and Nungurrayi women (U shaped figures) collecting Ngarlkirdi (witchetty grubs) in an area known as Kunajarrayi, south west of Yuendumu. It also symbolises important features of initiation ceremonies for young Japaljarri and Jungurrayi men. The area contains many caves (pringki) overlooking an important ceremonial site associated with Ngarlkirdi Jukurrpa.'