Lot 43
Women’s Dreaming
Lily Hargraves Nungarrayi Yirringali Jurrah
85 x 50 cm
Acrylic on linen
Bid on this piece
This piece has a reserve.
This piece comes professionally stretched.
About the Artist
Nungarrayi loved to paint and is driven to record and preserve cultural knowledge and traditions, knowing she was fighting against the power of time and the new impeding culture. Nungarrayi loved colour and expression. In her later years her style has changed slightly showing more freedom and use of colour, while years of experience with brushes show skilled execution and technique. Nungarrayi produced some truly stunning work with heavy bold confident brush work while manipulating a broad range of colour. This artist's depth of character and life experience is reflected in her work.
Nungarrayi was also known as Maggie Jurrah/Hargraves. Nungarrayi was one of the old desert walkers born in the Tanami Desert in her country near Jilla or Chilla Well. She was a senior law woman and is highly respected in the community. For many years she taught children Warlpiri language and culture in the school bilingual education program. Nungarrayi had 4 children 2 of whom are still alive. Her sister had 7 children. Nungarrayi was co wife with her sister so they raised their children together. She walked the breadth of the Tanami Desert early on in her life.
Nungarrayi's art is sought after, and held in a number of
major collections, and she has been widely exhibited both in Australia and overseas, including France, London, Germany and the USA. In 2009 and 2014 Nungarrayi was a finalist, and highly commended in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.
Sadly, Nungarrayi passed away in May 2018. Her art is included in this auction with permission from her family.
About the Work
Nungarrayi's works have been described as bold, bright, raw, uncompromising and charismatic, depicting themes such as bush vine, bush yam, coconut, goanna, snake and bush turkey. This piece depicts a Walpiri women's dreaming story.
Notable Collections
AAMU Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art, The Netherlands
Collection Roemer, Germany
National Gallery of Victoria, Australia
Art Bank Australia
