Acrylic on Linen

30cmx30cm

The subject of this work is Lappi Lappi, a rock hole near Lake Hazlett, about 90 km northwest of Lake Mackay in Western Australia. The country belongs to Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa and Nangala/Jangala skin groups. Located in a sheltered basin, the rock hole at Lappi Lappi is a permanent source of water, and is surrounded by country rich in bush tucker. In the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreamtime) many mothers with young children would gather there because it was a safe place to stay. The rock hole at Lappi Lappi is home to a ‘warnayarra’, a rainbow serpent that travels underground between various rock holes. One day, women were gathered at the rock hole with their children, singing and dancing. When the ‘warnayarra’ heard the sound of voices, it travelled silently towards them, under the water. When it reached the edge of the rock hole, it rose out of the water and ate them all.

Celestine Nungarrayi Tex was born in 1999 and attends the local School in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 km north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. During the School holidays the children from the local school are encouraged to visit the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, to paint their Jukurrpa or Dreaming stories. They are provided with an unrestricted palette of acrylic paint and small boards. Celestine participated in the Art program.