Judy Napangardi Watson - Nomad Art

Artist: Judy Napangardi Watson
Art Centre: Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu
Region: Central Australia

Artwork Story

Judy Watson was born in 1925 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. Judy still frequently goes hunting in the country west of Yuendumu, near her homelands.

Judy was taught painting by her elder sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson. Her work incorporates a dynamic use of colour and energetic “dragged dotting” style and retains strong kurruwarri, the details which tell of the sacredness of place and song in her culture. Judy’s Jukurrpa are Ngarlyipi (Snake Vine), Karnta (Woman), Mina Mina, and Kanakurlangu.