AUD $$  GST (10.00%)

Greeting Card Single - 17.5x12.5cm-AGR627

The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming)depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters whoare found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars inthe constellation Taurus, more commonly known as thePleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skingroup and are often depicted in paitngs of this Jukurrpacarrying the Jampijinpa man ‘wardilyka’ (the bush turkey[Ardeotis australias]) who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnuand who represents the Orion's Belt cluster of stars. Jukurrajukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also inlove with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is oOen shownchasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escapefrom the Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselvesinto fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. Thecustodians of the Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa areJapaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women.Some parts of the Napaljarri-warnu Jukurrpa are closelyassociated with men’s sacred ceremonies of a very secreOvenature.Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) tells of the journey ofJapaljarri and Jungarrayi men who travelled fromKurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri (west ofYuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the West Australianborder. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiationceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the‘kurdiji’. The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star)where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importanceof this place cannot be overemphasized as young boys arebrought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjanjatjara countryto the south and Lajamanu to the north.In contemporary Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography isused to represent the Jukurrpa, associated sites and otherelements. OOen depicted in paintings for this Jukurrpa is thefemale star Yantarlarangi (Venus - the Evening Star) who chasesthe seven Napaljarri sisters for having stolen the night from her.