8 AM 5788/08
Betsy Napangardi Lewis Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Mina Mina Dreaming) - Karlangu 2007
Acrylic on Belgian linen 1070 x 610mm $3770
The country associated with this painting is Mina Mina, a place far west of Yuendumu, significant to
Napangardi and Napanangka women who are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. The
Dreaming describes the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled east gathering food, collecting
Ngalyipi (Tinospora smilacina or snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began
their journey at Mina Mina where Karlangu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements
the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them eventually beyond Warlpiri
country. In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa,
associated sites and other elements. The primary motif used in paintings of the Jukurrpa are the Karlangu which
rose up out of the ground at Mina Mina. The women used them to collect bush tucker on their travels.