Artist: Liddy Nakamarra Nelson | Title: Bush Potatoes (Purda) | Year: 2000 | Medium: synthetic polymer on canvas | Dimensions: 122 x 53cm
PROVENANCE
Direct from the Artist, N.T
ARTWORK STORY
This is a painting for the Nakamarra, Jakamarra, Jupurrula and Napurrula skin groups. The bush potato is a major food source and a very important Dreaming for the Warlpiri people. This painting tells the story of two sites. Two Jagamarra men had a big fight after an arguement. This is how the two types of tucker now grow on the bush potato plant. These are Wapitali (the little potato) and Yumurpa (the big potato).
Women (U shapes) are shown digging for yam with their coolamon dishes and digging sticks. The bush potato plant is shown with its roots extending outwards. They culminate in big bush potatoes.
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 Jagamarra Nelson.
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
Direct from the Artist, N.T
ARTWORK STORY
This is a painting for the Nakamarra, Jakamarra, Jupurrula and Napurrula skin groups. The bush potato is a major food source and a very important Dreaming for the Warlpiri people. This painting tells the story of two sites. Two Jagamarra men had a big fight after an arguement. This is how the two types of tucker now grow on the bush potato plant. These are Wapitali (the little potato) and Yumurpa (the big potato).
Women (U shapes) are shown digging for yam with their coolamon dishes and digging sticks. The bush potato plant is shown with its roots extending outwards. They culminate in big bush potatoes.
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 Jagamarra Nelson.
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’
