Maryanne Nungarrayi
Aboriginal Warlpiri woman
Maryanne paints Wardapi Jukurrpa (Goanna Dreaming) - Yarripurlangu and Yankirri Ngipiri (Emu Egg Dreaming).
@warlu_artArtworks
Wardapi
This painting depicts 'Wardapi' (sand monitor/goanna). The Wardapi Dreaming tells a story of forbidden love at the site of Yarripilangu. The story goes that a Japandardi man named Wamaru travelled south and approached a group of women that were sitting in a circle. He wanted to woo a Nungarrayi woman who was the "wrong skin for him." By tribal law, their relationship would be taboo. Still, he chose to pursue her and they went up the hill at Yarripilangu where they made love. The earth there turned to white ochre and the man turned himself and all of the women into goannas. To this day, white ochre can be found at the top of the hill. The ochre is used for love magic and ceremonial decoration.