Desert Heat
Hot paintings from the Western Desert

10 AM 910/03
Dinny Tjampitjinpa Nolan Water Dreaming 2002
Acrylic on linen 610 x 914mm $2350
This painting depicts a water dreaming ceremony performed at a place called Mikanji, 200 km north west of
Papunya Community. Aboriginal men perform corroborees that invoke the elements of a storm, bringing wind,
rain and lightning into the area. The water flows through the usually dry creek beds replenishing the waterholes and
rejuvenating the bush tucker plants. The concentric circle represents the waterhole in the area and the curved
lines symbolise water flowing across the sand. The strokes or bars to either side of the curving lines represent the
clouds and lightning. These symbols are used in sand mosaics and body paint designs by Aboriginal men performing
this ceremony.