PADDY JAPALJARRI SIMS - MILKY WAY DREAMING

PADDY JAPALJARRI SIMS
MILKY WAY DREAMING,  2005
76 x 152 cm
synthetic polymer paint on belgian linen
 
PROVENANCE
Yuendumu, NT
Warlurkulang Artists, NT Cat No. 1787/05Cooee Art, NSW Cat No. 2957Private Collection, NSWAccompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Warlurkulang Artists
 
STORY
Paddy Sims was born south-west of Yuendumu prior to contact with Europeans. He began painting in the early 1980s when the school principal asked the senior men to paint ancestral designs on the school doors. In all, thirty doors were painted by Paddy Sims, Paddy Stewart, and three other countrymen, and these now hold pride of place in the South Australian Museum. The site depicted is Yanjirliri, which means “star” in Warliri. There are low hills here which are stars coming down to rest on the earth, and a water soakage. The importance of this place can not be overemphasized, as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjantjara country to the south, and Lajamanu to the north. Ngalyipi (snake vine) is used to tie witi (ceremonial spears) vertically to the shins of dancing initiates.These witi are shown in straight lines, stars are two white circles, dancing sites, hills, and soakages are represented by concentric circles.