WARLPIRI ARTIST URSULA NAPANGARDI MARKS FOLLOWS IN THE TRADITIONS OF HER PEOPLE, WHOSE COUNTRY LIES NORTH WEST OF ALICE SPRINGS IN THE TANAMI DESERT.

Laundry Gallery is proud to present Yarla Jukurrpa (Bush Potato Dreaming) by Ursula Napangardi Marks in conjunction with the Warnayaka Art Centre in Lajamanu.

Napangardi’s bold use of colour depicts information about creation times, knowledge of natural resources and Warlpiri law. The specific stories were handed down to her from her grandparents, the intergenerational passing of knowledge granting her custodianship of their sacred family wisdom. 

She has been in the most important ceremonies for Warlpiri women, including her sons’ and nephews’ ceremonies.

“Yarla. Bush Potato. My fathers side dreaming. I went to that country. It’s a place 200km from Lajamanu. I was taught by the old people.

It’s when the cold weather comes, in June and July. The flowers are light purple. That’s when we know. I see the leaves. Long leaves, skinny ones. And then I pull, pull, pull it. And the root, that’s the bush potato. Purple or orange or reddy colour. 

We eat them. Put on the fire for half an hour. Wait, until the smells come out and then we know is cooked.” ~ Ursula Marks