Polly’s paintings concern the legendary journey of Kungka Kutjara who travelled the land during the Dreamtime Creative Era. They came upon the site of Pikilly (Vaughan Springs)and the important Uparli Dreaming was enacted and passed on. Uparli means bush banana.
The site of Pikilly (Vaughan Springs) is an important permanent water source and sacred site within a fertile valley, situated approximately 350 km northwest of Alice Springs, NT. This is the origin of the Bush Banana story. Like all aboriginal stories, the Bush Banana Dreaming has been passed down through the ages to ensure that the creation aspects and ancestral links with the Dreamtime are not forgotten, but rather re-enacted and told through song, story and painting. Polly has chosen to depict this ancient story using acrylic on canvas, showing the growth of this important food source in her country.
The background colours represent the desert landscape of desert sands and spinifex grasses, and many different native food sources, including tomato, plums, yams and wild flowers. For thousands of years Walpiri women have spent much of their day collecting such foods and grasses. They have an intimate knowledge of where these plants may be found, their stages of growth, and both nutritional and medicinal uses. Polly is well known for use of vibrant colours and wonderful symmetry creating a modern approach to this traditional Dreaming Story. Gathering food such as the Bush Banana is women’s business and many ceremonies are associated with an array of native food sources.
Polly Naparoulla is a full blood Aboriginal from the Walpiri Tribe. Polly is aunty of famous Eunice Napangardie – both share the same Bush Banana Dreaming from Vaughan Springs. Polly’s father, Ronnie Tjakamarra was from Nyirrpi or White Point. Polly paints her father’s dreamings from Nyirrpi and also the Bush Plum and Possum Dreaming, her father’s dreaming stories from near Vaughan Springs. Polly’s mother, May Nabaljtarri gave Polly important Bush Tucker and the Kangaroo Dreaming stories from near Vaughan Springs. Polly has five daughters and one son. Only one daughter, Marilyn Abbott, has continued to paint. Polly’s work has been exhibited and sold throughout Australian Galleries – with her trademark becoming the colourful flowering growths of the Bush Banana.
Collections
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
