PULPURRU DAVIES - UNTITLED
PULPURRU DAVIES
UNTITLED, 2006
acrylic on linen101.6 x 152.4 cm
REGION
Warakurna, WA
PROVENANCE
Kayili Artists, WA Cat No. #06-045
Private Collection, NSWArt Leven, Gadigal NSW
STORY
Pulpurru grew up living a traditional, nomadic way of life with her family as they moved from waterhole to waterhole in their traditional country. They lived this way up until the 1960s, by which time they were one of the last groups of nomadic people in Australia.
Kiwarr is shown in the centre of the painting. Pulpurru's family used to dig for water at this site. The water is sometimes very deep under the sand and all the family would have to help dig. One person would be down the hole, passing a wooden dish above their head to someone outside to throw the sand clear. Pulpurru has painted this country after a big rain and there is a wash away funnelling water to this slight depression. Nearby, there are caves made by a ninu (bilby) digging for minga (ants). Other rockholes that are Pulpurru's family water sites are also shown, her birth place Yankaltjunku, Nyukurda and Mirra Mirra, where one of Pulpurru's sons was born.
ARTIST PROFILE
