Artiste : Jakayu Biljabu (1936)

Titre de l'œuvre : Wantili (Well 25)

Format : 152 x 106 cm

Provenance et certificat : centre d'art aborigène de Martumili

Référence de cette peinture : 18-389

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Explications pour cette œuvre :

Wantili is a large jurnu (soak) and lyinji (clay pan) near Well 25 on the Canning Stock Route. Wantili lies within Jakyu's ngurra (home country), and she travelled extensively around this site as a young girl.

The area is dominated by claypans surrounded by tuwa (sandhills). Following rain the claypans are filled with water, with the overflow from nearby waterholes flowing to Wantili. At that time, Wantili becomes an important place for obtaining fresh water for drinking and bathing. Wantili is significant for the fact that at this site Kartujarra, Manyjilyjarra, Putujarra and Warnman people would all come together for ceremonies. Many jiwa (stones used by women for grinding seeds) from these times can still be found there today.

Wantili is one of the many sites featured in the epic Minyipuru (Seven Sisters) jukurrpa (dreamtime) narrative. The story follows the movement of seven sisters travelling all the way across the desert, beginning at Roebourne on the coast of Western Australia, as they are pursued by a lustful old man, Yurla. As the women travel they stop to rest at many sites to eat, dance, rest and sing, on the way leaving behind an assortment of articles that become formations in the land.

The Seven Sisters rested at Wantili before throwing seeds, then continuing their journey on to Tiwa, Juntujuntu, and then onward to Pangkapini, where they finally escaped Yurla by flying into the sky to become the Pleaides constellation of stars.

© Photo Aboriginal Signatrure Estrangin Gallery, and text with the courtesy of the Artist and Martumili Arts