Christopher Japangardi Michaels

Christopher Japangardi Michaels was born in Alice Springs, his home town is Nyirripi some 2000km north-west of Alice Springs. Christopher comes from a painting family. His father is also a Yuendemu artist, Chris Japanangka Michaels. They tell the stories of their parents/grandparents, Jeanie Napangardi Lewis and Mickey Singleton. These stories are Water Dreamings from a particular site - Puyurru, is Nampijinpa/Jampijinpa and Nangala/Jangala skin groups land. This area is a permanent source of water which allows the abundance of rich bush tucker to sustain them.In the time of the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) mothers with young children would gather at this site because it was a safe place to stay.

The subject of Christopher’s work, Water Dreaming focuses on a rock hole called Lappi Lappi, some 90kms northwest of Lake Mackay, that is home to a ‘warnayarra’, 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 rainbow serpent heard their 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.

When Christopher is not painting he plays centre for Nyirripi’s local football team.

The subject of this work is Lappi Lappi, a rock hole near Lake Hazle, 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.

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Water Dreaming - Puyurru #2515/19ny 2019
acrylic on canvas, unstretched
183cm x 61cm
$2,500 AUD