Mina Mina, 1999 by Dorothy Napangardi, 41x51cm 3334DN

This early work by Dorothy lends itself to her father’s country. In this painting you can see the artist has reference the rain and salt as seen in some of her other works based on ‘rain, plants and food’. The dotting dancing across the country of the ceremonial site of origin for the Jukurrpa , known as Mina Mina.

As the Dreaming is patrilineal, the father is instrumental in teaching as are his sisters. The auntie and niece relationship is of upmost importance in the conservation of culture.

Topographically, the sacred site of Mina Mina, her custodial country, is made up of two enormous soakage areas that, rarely filled with water, exist as clay-pans. Further on from Mina Mina, there are many other smaller clay-pans.

As water soaks into the ground small areas of earth dry out and lift at the edges becoming delineated by salt. The background white dotting depicts the crustations of salt stretching infinitely onward whereas the other colours depict various lizards and small mammal tracks that for western desert people are an important food source.

This work is featured on page 46 in the monograph: Honouring and Remembering the Art and Life of Dorothy Napangardi, 1987-2013