Original Art

The Jukurrpa site shown in this painting for Ngatijirri (budgerigar) is at Yangarnmpi, south of Yuendumu.

Ngatijirri are small, bright green birds, native to central Australia which are common around the Yuendumu area, especially after the summer rains. Men would hunt for ngatijirri nests, robbing them of eggs and juvenile birds, which are both considered delicacies.

The men would also go out hunting for adult, flying ngatijirri, which they would kill byswinging branches, killing sticks or karli (boomerangs) to hit the birds inflight.

The ngatijirri travelled to Yangarnmpi from Patirlirri, near Willowra to the east of Yuendumu and travelled further on to Marngangi, north/west of Mount Dennison and west of Yuendumu. Each time the flock of ancestral ngatijirri lands, they perform ceremonies, singing and dancing as they fly and roost in the trees. The sites of these ceremonies are depicted in this painting as concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the birds on the ground and give an indication of the large flocks of ngatijirri that can be found near Yangarnmpi and other sites close to Yuendumu.

After good rains ngatijirri can successfully breed several times, resulting in an explosion of the population in a short time. Custodians for the Ngatijirri Jukurrpaare Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men.

Please note: Original paintings on canvas are firmly wrapped around stretcher bars, also known as ‘stretched’. For any international shipments (outside of Australia), these paintings will be shipped unstretched and rolled to ensure their safe delivery. Pleasecontact us for any enquiries.

Additionally, this unique painting may also be available to purchase in-store. Should it be sold to an in-store buyer prior to an online sale, we will promptly contact you to arrange a refund and discuss alternative art options.