Two Dog Dreamingby Murdie Nampijinpa Morris

This painting depicts 'malikijarra Jupurrpa' (Two Dog Dreaming). The 'Kirda (owners) of this Dreaming are Nampijinpa/Nangala women and Jampijinpa/Jangala men. This Dreaming comes from country adjacent to the windmill at Warlarl (Rabbit Flat). This site is part of a long Dreaming track that stretches from Yarrajalpa in the extreme west of Warlpiri country to Warlaku (Ali Curung) in the east. In this Dreaming story two dog ancestors, a Jampijinpa and a Napangardi, travelled from the west to the east. They began at Yarrajalpa ( waterhole) and travelled through Wairninginpa, Jinarli, Karjawarnu (rock-hole), Jilwirrpa and Waanjurna (rockhole). They dug holes in the ground and created 'warnirri' (rock-holes) and water soakages as they went.

Artist:Murdie Nampijinpa Morris
Title:Two Dog Dreaming
ID:430-16NY
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:30 x 30 cm
Region:Yuendumu, Central Australia

Artist

Murdie Morris was born around 1934 at Rabbit Flat on the Tanami Track. She grew up in the bush around Tanami Downs and lived a traditional lifestyle until the time her father worked on the Granites Goldfields. She is also a senior custodian and traditional owner of this land.

She was married to Tiger Tjapaltjari in Lajamanu and lived there with him until he passed away. She now lives at Nyiripi, west of Yuendemu.

She had been watching the other women painting and has wanted to try creating some artwork herself for some time.

Her paintings represent the Maliki, or wild dog dreaming. It tells the story of the Wild Dogs in Murdie's home country of Lajamanu. They travel from camp to camp looking for food that they can steal from the people. The people of the camp can see where the dogs leave their tracks in the sand and people will often find the left over bones as well. This is an important story and belongs to the Namitjinpa/Tjampitjinpa and Nangala/Tjangala skin groups.

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