167-25 – Mulupuku – PAULINE SUNFLY

Artist : PAULINE SUNFLY
Title : Mulupuku
Size/Medium : 1524 x 1016mm: acrylic on linen Painting

Pauline is the daughter of famous Balgo painters, Sunfly Tjampitjin and Bai Bai Napangarti, from whom she has inherited many Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) stories.

Pauline learnt to paint from years of watching her father. She is an extremely competent painter who boldly recreates many significant stories with technical precision.

Pauline was born at the old Balgo Mission and was educated through the mission school. She recalls working in the kitchen, the laundry and clearing the grounds of the mission.

She has spent some time in Fitzroy Crossing and has visited Broome and Alice Springs, but otherwise has remained in Balgo with her ever growing family.

Pauline is a dedicated and talented painter who produces graphic and powerful paintings.

In this painting, Pauline has painted her Grandmother’s Country, esteemed artist Bai Bai Napangarti (dec), depicted is an important bush food, Mulupuku that can be found in her country around Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), south of Balgo.

The lines in the painting depict the tali (hills) where native grasses grow in the wet season. It is from this landscape that the women gather seeds. The seeds are then washed several times before they are ground up to make a flour-like substance used to make damper.