Ngapa Jukurrpa

I paint Ngapa Jukurrpa. Ngapa means water. I paint ngapa at a place called Puyurru. It is a creek, a dry creek with no water. The creek flows when it rains and when the rain dries out you can find ngapa under the sand if you dig deep. The square boxes in my paintings represents the ngapa in the ground. I am creating the shapes of the holes that we dig in the sand. The white paint is the ngapa in the sand, the ngapa in the storm of the clouds and the ngapa as it travels to salt lakes. I love making paintings. My aunties taught me. They told me to paint my country. Paint puyurru. I started on little canvas, slowly and then built up to the larger sizes. I am so proud to be an artist. My family are also very proud of me and encourage me to keep painting. I love that people know my name and recognise my painting. Painting has given me my independence and makes me feel strong in myself. I am proud to be painting my country and culture. Painting Ngapa Jukurrpa at Puyurru. TASHA NAMPIJINPA COLLINS