Spencer Sisters
April, Isobel & Kumantjayi W. Spencer Napaltjarri

“When I’m gone sister you’ve got to take over the traditional ways of painting. How I’m doing it, like this.”

It’s a powerful message shared since childhood. First from their elder brother, then to each other.

 
 

April Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11689-21
585 x 900 mm Acrylic on Linen
$750

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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The three sisters were born and raised in Yuendumu, NT in the Central Western Desert. It was here that they first learnt to paint, watching their father and brother draw circles and dotting in the desert sand.

Many of the stories they paint are related to the surrounding country of Yuendumu including Ngarlikurlangu, a Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) site and Wapurtal, a Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) site.

 
 

W. Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11024-20
500 x 590 mm Acrylic on Linen
$400

'This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.’

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Their art practices have remained interwoven with those of their family, with April, Isobel and W. Kumantjayi painting alongside each other at Tangentyere Artists for many years, until W. sadly passed away at the end of 2020.

This is an exhibition of the Spencer sisters’ art, following in their family’s footsteps and continuing the traditional ways of painting.

 

Isobelle Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11397-21
607 x 607 mm Acrylic on Linen
$450

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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W. Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #9349-18
430 x 602 mm Acrylic on Linen
$360

'This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.’

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W. Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #10226-19
295 x 915 mm Acrylic on Linen
$380

'This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.’

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“I love painting, telling stories with friends and family. I love coming here to Tangentyere Art Centre for a day of this, tea, people, canvas. Lots of people say hello! Hello! Happy people!”

-April Spencer Napaltjarri

April Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11619-21
1015 x 1220 mm Acrylic on Linen
$1,730

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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Isobelle Spencer / Yankirri Jukurrpa #10994-20
560 x 610 mm Acrylic on Linen
$400

This painting is about Ngarlikurlangu, north of Yuendumu, an important site on the path of the Yankirri Jukurrpa, (Emu Dreaming). The Yankirri travelled to the rockhole at Ngarlikurlangu to find water. Emus are represented by their wirliya (footprints), that show them walking around Ngarlikurlangu eating Yakajirri (bush raisin). In the time of the Jukurrpa there was a fight at Ngarlikiurlangu between a Yankirri Ancestor and Wardilyka (Australian Bustard) Ancestors over sharing the yakajirri found there. There is an important dance for this Jukurrpa that is performed during initiation ceremonies.

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Isobelle Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11204-20
500 x 790 mm Acrylic on Linen
$470

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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W. Spencer / Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) #10295-19
320 x 916 mm Acrylic on Linen
$400

This painting depicts the Pamapardu Jukurrpa (Flying Ant Dreaming) from Wapurtali, west of Yuendumu. ‘Pamapardu’ is the Warlpiri name for the flying ants or termites that build the large anthills found throughout Warlpiri country. Pamapardu build earth mounds called Mingkirri that are common in the Tanami area. When heavy rains come in summer the mingkirri are flooded out, so the Pamapardu emerge from their nests/mounds with wings and, following their Queens, who fly off to make new homes in dry mounds or to build anew. The wings are subsequently discarded when the ants when they have found their new home. The ant grubs are eaten by goannas and are also collected by women, using fighting sticks to smash the nests, for human consumption. In this stage they can be lightly cooked in coals and eaten. They are nice and sweet.

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April Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11160-21
450 x 895 mm Acrylic on Linen
$550

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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Isobelle Spencer Napaltjarri / Wardapi Jukurrpa #11691-21
600 x 870 mm Acrylic on Linen
$630

“This painting is about the way women hunt Wardapi – that sand goanna. He digs holes in the dunes, makes his nest deep inside. Many of the holes all join up. Women hunt Wardapi in the dunes by digging out the holes. Sometimes cover one, and Wardapi runs out other one. Need to hunt him together. Find all the holes. Dig them at the same time. Someone going to get him that way.”

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Next

Ampere / Country: Figurative Catalogue