Bessie Nakamarra Sims 1932
Warlpiri. Nakamarra
Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Association
Yuendumu, Warlpiri Tanami Desert,
Central Desert region,
Northern territory
Mukaki Jukurrpa
Wild Plum Dreamingr
Acrylic on canvas
”Dhe Mukaki Jukurrpa wild plum Dreaming tells of the journey of a group of heroic Mukaki Ancestors from Wirlki to Yiwinji. Another place - Watungurra, near Nyirrpi and about 160 km south-west from Yuendumu - is also associated with this story. The site painted in this story belongs to Jakamarra/ Jupurrurla men and Napurrurla/ Nakamarra women. Mukaki wild plum fruit are picked when they have been dried by the sun. They can then be ground with added water to make a paste.
Traditionally women would gather mukaki and squeeze the juice into food carriers to drink. The ripe black plums would also be used as paint for body decoration and ground painting. In the past people would apply the juice to their skin to make themselves darker. The mukaki are also eaten by the possums.”
Iconographic explanation: In this bird perspective design concentric circles are applied to represent the trees themselves watiya while curved lines are usually used to depict the root yartura. The wavy lines are the paths the women take when gathering the fruit.
The half moons with the line next to it represent the women themselves gathering bush tucker with their digging sticks. Clusters of small circles represent the flowers jinjirla.
