Description
Size: 30 cm x 30 cm (12 x 12 inches)
Fabric: wool (front) and cotton (back)
The Artist: Angkatji (Rini) Tiger.
About the design: Perentie Lizard Creation Story
Wati Ngintaka is an epic Tjukurpa (dreamtime) story from the Anangu Pitjatjantjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Rini has depicted just one part of the Ngintaka story in this painting. Wati Ngintaka (literally translating to Ngintaka Man – the ngintaka is a very large perentie lizard with large yellow spots) travels across a vast area of the landscape as he is on the run after stealing the Yankunytjatjara womens tjungari grinding stone. He is holding the tjungari in his tail, and he leaves a trail in the sand as he runs along. Wati Ngintaka is travelling to Waladina. The Ngintaka heard a sound it was the Nyintiri women using their tjiwa grinding stone. He heard the sound from a long way off, Western Austalia way, and travelled all the way to the Pitjantjatjara Lands. He visited the minyma (women – one woman and her two nieces) and watched them making damper with their grinding stone. They gave him mai (food) from their grinding stone but it was no good. Then they gave him mai from another grinding stone and it was superior, and he was happy with this good food. One day, Wati Ngintaka thought he would play a trick on the ladies. He made his foot look like it was bleeding, so the ladies went out hunting and left him in the camp. While they were gone, he stole the good grinding stone and this is the beginning of the big, long story of Wati Ngintaka, as he travels the lands with the stone in his tail. In this painting, the large concentric circle represents the grinding stone. The lines in the painting indicate where Wati Ngintaka is travelling to, with his tail leaving tracks in the sand. In the Ngintaka story, the people eventually catch up to the ngintaka and they spear and kill him. The Yankunytjatjara Nyintjiri people got their grinding stone back and they were very happy. They use this stone to make bush food they grind wangunu seeds and mix it with water to make damper.
About the BWA chainstitch (gabba) kilim products
These beautiful, unique textiles are a cross-cultural collaboration combining Aboriginal designs and traditional Kashmiri rug-making techniques. Chain stitched, using hand dyed wool, each is a completely handmade piece. A more empowering way to work, this brings many direct benefits to the artists’ and their community. Control and ownership of intellectual property are also maintained. Purchase of these products guarantees a direct return to the Aboriginal artist and their community.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: These cushion covers feel great and are fabulously hardwearing – we can vouch for that.
Do not put place/use in direct sunlight or colors may fade. To clean – dry cleaning recommended. It is possible with careful hand-wash in warm water using a wool detergent. Creases can be ironed out on a wool (low) steam setting.
