Dancing Women at Wilkinkarra, 2007 Mitjili Napanangka Gibson 91x122cm

Dancing Women at Wilkinkarra, 2007 - Mitjili Napanangka Gibson - 91 x 122 cm

Dancing Women at Wilkinkarra (2007) by Mitjili Napanangka Gibson is a vibrant and joyous depiction of women from the Napanangka kinship group as they dance and sing the country into being. The U-shaped symbols in the painting represent the women, including Mitjili’s big sister, Minta, performing their sacred ceremonial dance.

The site of this ancestral ceremony is Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), a vast salt lake spanning the Northern Territory and Western Australia. As described by Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, Wilkinkarra was an important walkabout place for her father ( Tjapangardi) and her sisters ( Napanangkas), where they camped before travelling into the surrounding lands to hunt.

This painting specifically references Yuaninti Waku Waku, the southern part of Wilkinkarra. The women depicted are dancing from the West towards the East, following the ancient path of the Greater Desert, a sacred track leading to Janyinki —a place associated with fertility and the birth of future generations.

Mitjili Napanangka Gibson: A Legacy in Art and Film

Born in Winparrku in the Western Desert in 1932, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson (1932–2011) was a highly respected Indigenous Australian artist and actress. She began painting after watching her niece, Dorothy Napangardi, who was already an acclaimed artist. Mitjili’s unique artistic style quickly gained recognition, with her work featured at the 2007 Melbourne and Sydney Art Fairs. In 2009, she was shortlisted for the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, solidifying her reputation as an important contemporary Indigenous artist.

Beyond her visual art, Mitjili made significant contributions to Australian cinema. She played Delilah's Nana in Warwick Thornton’s award-winning film Samson and Delilah (2009), a performance that earned her a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2009 AFI Awards. She had previously starred in Thornton’s short film Nana, where she played the title role.

A Lasting Cultural and Artistic Influence

Mitjili Napanangka Gibson’s paintings are deeply rooted in her cultural heritage, ceremonial traditions, and connection to Country. Her artworks continue to be highly sought after, celebrated for their bold use of traditional symbols, storytelling, and dynamic movement. Whether through her art or film performances, Mitjili’s legacy remains a powerful testament to the strength of Indigenous culture, kinship, and the sacred Dreaming stories of the Western Desert