Artist: Liddy Nakamarra Nelson | Title: Mingalpini-stolen baby | Year: 2000 | Medium: synthetic polymer paint on belgian linen | Dimensions: 160 x 114cm
PROVENANCE
Warnayaka Art Centre Cat No. BR/S/174
Cooee Art Gallery, NSW
EXHIBITED
Selected Works, November 2005, Australian Artprint Network
ARTWORK STORY
This painting tells the story of how one tribe which lived nearby, would steal babies from the other tribes of the area. In this instance the baby that was taken was very weak and sickly. The tribe had a really hard time in getting the baby back into a healthy condition. It worried the other members of the tribe that a little baby could be so sick. Eventually the baby’s condition improved and this made the tribe very relieved so they gave the baby back to the rightful parents and promised the other tribes of the area that they would never steal their children again. This is a dreaming story for the Nakamarra and Naparrula women from the Tanami desert in NT.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Lajamanu, NT
LANGUAGE
Warlpiri
BIOGRAPHY
Liddy Nelson Nakamarra began painting in 1986. Using large, expressive , iconographic forms in bright colours, she depicts subjects from her Dreamings, such as small snake, yam dreaming and bush grapes. Her works express an unrestrained quality that is typical of the style of artists from her community in Lajamanu, in the south-west of the Northern Territory. Her brother is the artist Michael Nelson Tjakamarra.
REFERENCES
Christine Nicholls, Senior Lecturer, Flinders University. Christine Nicholls is the author of ‘Yilpinji, Love Art & Ceremony’ which features Liddy Nelson’s print ‘First Love’.
PROVENANCE
Warnayaka Art Centre Cat No. BR/S/174
Cooee Art Gallery, NSW
EXHIBITED
Selected Works, November 2005, Australian Artprint Network
ARTWORK STORY
This painting tells the story of how one tribe which lived nearby, would steal babies from the other tribes of the area. In this instance the baby that was taken was very weak and sickly. The tribe had a really hard time in getting the baby back into a healthy condition. It worried the other members of the tribe that a little baby could be so sick. Eventually the baby’s condition improved and this made the tribe very relieved so they gave the baby back to the rightful parents and promised the other tribes of the area that they would never steal their children again. This is a dreaming story for the Nakamarra and Naparrula women from the Tanami desert in NT.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Lajamanu, NT
LANGUAGE
Warlpiri
BIOGRAPHY
Liddy Nelson Nakamarra began painting in 1986. Using large, expressive , iconographic forms in bright colours, she depicts subjects from her Dreamings, such as small snake, yam dreaming and bush grapes. Her works express an unrestrained quality that is typical of the style of artists from her community in Lajamanu, in the south-west of the Northern Territory. Her brother is the artist Michael Nelson Tjakamarra.
REFERENCES
Christine Nicholls, Senior Lecturer, Flinders University. Christine Nicholls is the author of ‘Yilpinji, Love Art & Ceremony’ which features Liddy Nelson’s print ‘First Love’.
