Patrick Japangardi Williams

Patrick Japangardi Williams is an emerging artist from Nyirripi, a remote Indigenous Australian community 450kms North West of Alice Springs.

Patrick is becoming well-known for his incredible dot work, strong design and detailing when depicting the Wakulyarri Jukurrpa (Black-footed Rock Wallaby Dreaming). It is a long story which travels from Yarungkanyi (west of Yuendumu) to Kunajarrayi. Men of the Jungarrayi/Japaljarri skin name and women of the Napaljarri/Nungarrayi skin name are the 'kirda' (custodians) for the Wakulyarri Jukurrpa.

The country associated with Patrick’s dreamtime is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu, which is significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women and Japangardi and Japanangka men. All of them are custodians of the dreaming that created the area. The Jukurrpa story tells 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 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 Desert oak trees. Ngalyipi is a sacred vine to Napangadri and Napanangka women that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry wooden bowls that are laden with bush tucker and as a tourniquet for headaches.