Wataki (Wild Orange) 2003, by Polly Napangardi Watson 129x41cm Cat 7798PWN

Wild Desert Orange, or Capparis Mitchellii, is known to the people of the Warlpiri language group as Wataki. These are small desert fruits which grow on a large shrub, depicted in Polly's painting by the concentric circle. The extending lines represent the branches laden with fruit, which are found only in summer and are very sought after by desert people. The wataki offers water and carbohydrates and is a good source of vitamin C and thiamine.

This painting shows an aerial perspective country, Mount Doreen, a mountain formation west of Yuendumu and approximately 350 km north west of Alice Springs. The background of colourful dots depicts the countryside surrounding the mountain range in its full diversity of wild flowers, trees, spinifex grasses and other native shrubs. Other important dreamings associated with this site are ngurlu (black seed) and j ungunpa (marsupial mouse).

The custodians of this Dreaming and site are women of the Napangardi/Napanangka skin group (aunt/niece). Still today the aunts (father's sisters) instruct the young women in cultural/ceremonial knowledge in strict accordance with traditional law.