Bush Carrot Dreaming - Australia

Painted in 2010.

Ngarlajiyi is a tiny plant found growing on the side of creeks and in sandy soils and commonly called a bush carrot or small yam. It has a small edible tuber resembling a carrot. Its botanical name is Vigna lanceolata. The country associated with this Dreaming is Waputarli or Mount Singleton, to the west of Yuendumu. The design of this painting simbolizes the cycle of growth of ‘ngarlajiyi’, telling how after the rain the plant grows quickly and extensively, spreading out over the country. This design is taken from women's ceremonial body painting. Napurrurla/Nakamarra women and Jupurrurla/Jakamarra men are the custodians of this Dreaming and the country associated with it.

In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Concentric circles are often used to represent the plants with ‘ngarlajiyi’ fruit, while large concentric circles often represent Yilkirdi, a rockhole in the Waputarli area belonging to the same Dreaming. These large concentric circles can also depict the base of the ‘ngarlajiyi’ plant with its superficial roots extending in the direction of the Dreaming, represented by radiating lines.Clusters depicted in the extreme of these radiating lines usually are portraying the bush carrot ‘jinjila’ (flowers).

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity

Born: 07/01/1932

Skin Name: Nakamarra

Country: Yuendumu, Northern Territory

Group: Warlpiri

 

Biography:

"I like painting because it's my Dreaming - Bush Carrot, Yam Dreaming…From my father and grandfather's side. I like to teach kids my Dreamining. I want everyone to know my Dreaming from all over the world. I know and they can know…"

Bessie Sims is the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims, they have 7 children and many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Bessie was born in the bush and lived for many years before coming into contact with white people at Mt. Doreen Station, west of Yuendumu. She now lives in South Camp in Yuendumu and is an active member of Yuendumu Night patrol which helps keep Yuendumu a safe community. In her spare time she goes hunting for wardapi (goanna) and bush tucker such as yarla (bush potato) and yakajirri (bush tomato).

 

Medium:

Acrylic on Linen

Prints on Paper

Ceremony

 

Themes:

Ngarlajiyi (Small Yam)

Janganpa (Native Possum)

Pamapardu (Flying Ant)

Karntajarra (Two Women)

Yarla (Bush Potato)

Bush Plum (Mukaki)

Ngalyajiyi (Bush Carrot)

 

Collections:

Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
Australian Museum, Sydney
Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Scotland
Donald Kahn Collection, USA
Flinders University Collection, Melbourne
Gordon Darling Foundation, Canberra
Museums & Art Galleries of the Northern Territory
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Newmont Mining, USA
South Australian Museum, Adelaide
Shell, USA
Private Collections
Australian Institute for Teching & School Leadership
Central TAFE Perth, WA
Kluge Ruhe, VA, USA
Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo