Judy Napangardi Watson
Artist Profile
Judy Watson Napangardi was born around 1935 at Yarungkanji, Mt. Doreen Station, at the time when many Warlpiri and other Central and Western Desert Peoples were living a traditional nomadic life. With her family Judy made many trips on foot back to (and lived for long periods at) Mina Mina and Yingipurlangu, her ancestral country on the border of the Tanami and Gibson Deserts. These places are rich in bush tucker such as wanakiji (bush plums), yakajirri (bush tomatoes), and wardapi (sand goanna). Though a very tiny woman Judy had ten children to a husband she was a co-wife to, together with Maggie and another sister. It was in this harsh and challenging environment, with many mouths to feed that her family was brought up.
Judy was taught painting by her elder sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson. She painted alongside Maggie at Warlukurlangu artists for a number of years, developing her own unique style. Most of her works depict Mina Mina or Dreamings connected to it: Karnta (Women), Kanakurlangu (Digging Stick), Ngalyipi (Snake Vine), Yunkaranyi (Honey Ant), Jintiparnta (Native Truffle) and hair belt.
She was a woman of incredible energy and this is transmitted to her work through her dynamic use of colour and energetic "dragged dotting" style. Judy was at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa by Warlpiri artists, however her work retained strong kurruwarri, the details which tell of the sacredness of place and song in her culture.
Judy passed away in May 2016.
In Judy's paintings, the country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. All of them are the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled.
The women began their journey at Mina Mina where ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country. The ‘ngalyipi’ vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak) trees. ‘Ngalyipi’ is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry ‘parrajas’ (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker and as a tourniquet for headaches.
