Nigel Japanangka Marshall Warlukurlangu Summer Showcase 21st January 2025 - 8th February 2025

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Jungunpa Jukurrpa (Spinifex Hopping Mouse Dreaming) 1018-24 2024, acrylic on canvas, stretched, 152cm x 152cm

This artwork can be hung vertically or horizontally.
The Jungunpa Jukurrpa (spinifex hopping-mouse [Notornis alexis] Dreaming) plays an important part in higher-level initiation ceremonies for Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. ‘Jungunpa’ makes holes everywhere and some form long tunnels. They are nocturnal animals. This Dreaming tells the story of ‘jungunpa’ ancestors who travelled from Kunajarrayi to Jila (Chilla Well) and then went underground to Junti. At Junti they looked around for food and after hunting there they went underground again and travelled south-west to Junginyi. Later they returned to Junti. This story is part of higher initiation ceremonies for Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men. In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. Often concentric circles are used to represent ‘mulju’ (water soakages), and wavy lines portray the ‘ngirnti’ (tail tracks) of the Jungunpa flanked by his ‘wirliya’ (footprints). Larger roundels can be used to depict the underground home of the Jungunpa and arc-shaped figures represent men lying down in the warmth of the late afternoon after hunting.
Artwork In Situ

Artwork to scale in-situ on 3.7m wall

Part of the Warlukurlangu Summer Showcase Exhibition

More from this exhibition

Other pieces by Nigel Japanangka Marshall in stockroom