Pollyanne Smith b. 1957
Mamungari Tjukurrpa - Mother's Country by Pollyanne Smith, 2021
90 x 90 cm
35 3/8 x 35 3/8 inches
35 3/8 x 35 3/8 inches
acrylic on linen
TIAA-PS202106
Copyright The Artist
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Pollyanne paints the story of a place that holds minyma tjukurrpa - Women’s Dreaming. Near Watarru in the APY Lands is her mother's birthplace, Untju-ku ngura, a large hill with...
Pollyanne paints the story of a place that holds minyma tjukurrpa - Women’s Dreaming. Near Watarru in the APY Lands is her mother's birthplace, Untju-ku ngura, a large hill with a rockhole in the centre. A mamu spirit lives here. Pollyanne is a Ngangkari, a traditional healer, and says that one can tell there is a mamu there as the trees in the
surrounding area are dead. Mamu spirits are spoken of across many language groups, sometimes as simply mischievous or troublemaking, but often dangerous or harmful, "monsters", or even believed to take the form of an illness. Untju-ku ngura is a special place, where women perform large
ceremonies. They paint
their faces white with ochre pigments, and sing the songs and dance the dances of the mamu.
surrounding area are dead. Mamu spirits are spoken of across many language groups, sometimes as simply mischievous or troublemaking, but often dangerous or harmful, "monsters", or even believed to take the form of an illness. Untju-ku ngura is a special place, where women perform large
ceremonies. They paint
their faces white with ochre pigments, and sing the songs and dance the dances of the mamu.
