Pauline Nampijinpa Singleton
Aboriginal Warlpiri Woman
“Painting keeps me busy. I like painting. I like the stories and like the colour.” Pauline grew up in Yuendumu, attending the local school and then moved to Alice Springs to attend Yirara College. After finishing school she moved back to Yuendumu and has been painting with the Warlukurlangu Artists since 1999. She is very actively involved with the local Mt Theo Youth Program helping to take care of the kids. She has also worked with Warlpiri Media doing broadcasting for local language radio programs. Pauline Paints her mother’s Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings, which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. These stories were passed down to her by her mother and her mother’s mother before them for millennia.
Artworks
Ngarlikurlangu (Circles)
This painting depicts 'Yankirri Jukurrpa' (Emu Dreaming) from a place called Ngarlikurlangu. This Jurkurrpa tells the story of a emu and bush turkey. They both used to go around country picking 'yakajirri' (bush raisins) mashing them into fruit balls to save in their nests for later. However, they were jealous of each other, the emu thought that the bush turkey was picking the best and juiciest bush raisins leaving him with sour ones.