Wilfred Jupurrurla Nelson lives in Yuendumu, an Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs. He was born and raised here and attended the local Primary School before moving to Alice Springs to attend Traeger Park High School. He returned to Yuendumu after finishing school where he obtained a job working in the housing industry. Wilfred has been painting with Warlukurlangu artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre at Yuendumu, since 1993. He first saw his father’s brother Michael Nelson paint and liked what he saw. His other uncle, Harry Jakamarra Nelson (also an artist with Warlukurlangu), would take him bush and show him special places.
On these trips he was told the Dreaming and shown the traditional ways of his country. These stories come from his father’s side and have been passed down through the generations for millennia. They are stories that relate directly to the land, its features and plants and animals that inhabit it. Wilfred’s Jukurrpa (Dreaming) include Marlu Jukurrpa (Red Kangaroo Dreaming) and Janganpa Jukurrpa (Brush-tail Possum Dreaming). Wilfred uses traditional iconography with an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of his traditional culture
This piece was painted in 2010 and is 60cm x 30cm in size.
This Artwork is stretched.
The Dreaming belongs to Napalijarri/Nungarrayi Women. The Country associated with this painting is Yarumayi (16 mile bore) to the East of Yuendumu. This place is an important site for ochre deposits and ceremonial sites. A Goanna Husband and Wife were living at Yarumayi and laid their eggs underground where they became white ochres. The ochre coloured circles are goanna holes as they are two larger concentric circles. The eggs of the Goanna can be seen lying in the nest with Goanna tracks around it.
All the artwork provided is done on with highest quality linen canvas, acrylic paints, oils and brushes ensuring the longevity of each piece of work.
