Janet Nakamarra Ngurlu

Janet Long Nakamarra was born in 1960 at Anninie on her traditional homelands of Warntapari, near the Willowra Community in Central Desert. She grew up living a traditional lifestyle with her family. Janet observed her aunt’s May and Molly Napurrula and learnt how to paint traditional body paint design for her Warntapari Dreamings. Janet is the daughter of Nora Long Nakamarra, sister to Doreen Dickson Nakamarra and half sister to the renowned artist Malcolm Maloney Jagamarra.

Bandicoot Dreaming depicted the inherited Warlpirri Dreaming story of the Bandicoot. In the Dreaming the father Bandicoot went hunting for Witchetty grubs using his magic stick. During hunting he would sing about his country of Conniston Station. One day when hunting his stick got stuck and while attempting to try to pull it out he pocked his eye out. Dazed, he sat there until family arrived, however he refused to go back with them. It is at this place where certain people who are attached to this Dreaming say “this is where he went blind and this is his country”. His spirit can still be found there today.

Collections:
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
N.S.W Art Gallery