Be Dazzled by ArtMob’s Jukurrpa

Aboriginal art is varied and complex. Art Mob is focused on discovering emerging artists in the landscape of Fine Art. For over a decade, Art Mob has hosted exhibitions and collections from emerging artists to interested audiences. The art has found homes in institutional collections and international private collections.

JUKURRPA

Art Mob launched “Jukurrpa” at 6pm on the 1^st of September. Take a look at the exclusive preview online http://www.artmob.com.au/artists/Jukurrpa. The exhibition is full of symbolism; it maps ancestral journeys, conflicts, sacred sites, water sources and ceremonial activities. It transcends the post-colonial simplification of the term “Dreamings”.

ABOUT JUKURRPA

The National Museum of Australia provides some context to the name “Jukurrpa”. This is extracted from the Yiwarra Kuju, it states:

“The Jukurrpa is sometimes translated as the ‘Dreaming’ or ‘Dreamtime’ and exists in desert law as the creation period.

During the Jukurrpa, ancestral beings in both human and animal form moved across the desert singing, marrying and fighting – or tricking and helping one another. As they travelled, they created the features of the land, waters, plants and animals. It also created the people, languages and ceremonies. They also established the moral, practical and spiritual laws that still govern Aboriginal societies. At journey’s end, the ancestral beings returned to the earth, transforming themselves into important waters, hills and rocks. Others took their places among the stars.

These Jukurrpa narratives form an intricate network of ‘Dreaming tracks’ or ‘songlines’ that crisscross the desert country. The knowledge embedded in these stories is held collectively by senior initiated people. Some aspects of this knowledge are broadly known to desert peoples; others, including parts of men’s and women’s law, are restricted to people of certain age, status and gender.”

PLACEMENT OF PAINTINGS

These painting are from the Aboriginal Art Center Warlukurlangu Artists, at Yuendumu. This is situated 290KM North West of Alice Springs in the Tanami Desert.

FURTHER READING

Christine Nicholls has written an erudite 3 part essay on Jukurrpa published as “‘Dreamtime’ and ‘The Dreaming’ – an introduction” in The Conversation in which the Warlukurlangu fire country is described.

READ MORE

Are you interested in learning more about your favourite pieces? Are you compelled to add them to your personalised gallery? Why don’t you contact us here http://www.artmob.com.au/