Witi Jukurrpaby Nathania Nangala Granites

This painting depicts Ceremonial Pole Dreaming. Witi are 10-12ft long ceremonial poles with Ngapiri and Wurrkali leaves tied to them from top to bottom. The young men dance with the Witi tied to their shins. They dance up and down with slightly bent knees, causing the poles to shake, sway and make noises that scare away spirits. The site depicted in this artwork in Yanjirlpiri where there is a small hill and a number of water soakages and rock holes. The ceremonial importance of this place cannot be overemphasized, as young boys are taken there to be initiated as far away as Pitjantjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu far to the north.

In this Witi Jukurrpa, Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men travelled south to Yanjirlpiri to perform men's initiation ceremonies. Men's initiation ceremonies are performed in the hot summer months. Napaljarri and Nungarrayi women also play a major role in men's initiation ceremonies.

Artist:Nathania Nangala Granites
Title:Witi Jukurrpa
ID:2099-17
Medium:Acrylic on Canvas
Size:61 x 46 cm
Region:Yuendumu, Central Australia

Artist

Nathania Nangala Granites is a young Warlpiri woman from Yuendumu Community, approximately 3 hours from Alice Springs in Central Australia. Nathania is an emerging artist who has worked closely with Warlukurlangu – Artists of Yuendumu. The primary focus of her artworks centre around the sacred place of Puyurru which is to the west of Yuendumu Community, it is central to the Ngapa (Water) Dreaming for the area. Puyurru usually features dry creek beds which are water soakages or naturally occurring wells. Nathania takes an underground view for her paintings, detailing the underground rivers which snake across the countryside.

Nathania is also an active member of her community not only through her painting with Warlukurlangu Artists but also the Mt Theo Program as a Jaru Pirrjirdi Trainee within The Jaru Pirrjirdi Program. This is a youth development and leadership program as well as an after care program for at risk young people. Nathania’s paintings have been featured through several other galleries around Australia through her involved with Warlukurlangu and now Central Art is excited to be able to feature her paintings through our website also.

View more artworks by this artist

+ Read more about artist