Artist: Molly Tasman ( Deceased)

Molly Tasman, skin name Napurrurla, was born in the Tanami Desert. She experienced a traditional Warlpiri lifestyle as a child, spending time at Mount Doreen, Yarturlu Yarturlu, and Yurrampi, before her family was rounded up and trucked to newly created settlement of Lajamanu as part of the Government relocation program in the early 1950s.Napurrurla was passionate about Warlpiri culture and dedicated to preserving its knowledge for future generations. For many years, she taught bilingual education at the Lajamanu school. The dedication and perfectionism she displayed to her culture also shone through in her art, which became widely respected amongst her peers and art collectors.
Painting as a means of preserving and expressing Warlpiri culture, Napurrurla discovered a sense of freedom in art that allowed her to more deeply explore her own sense of self. Reflecting on the desert landscapes and songlines that she extensively travelled by foot throughout her life, Napurrurla brought her Jukurrpa (Dreaming) to life when she painted on canvas, leaving a legacy to Warlpiri people.
Napurrurla’s art has been featured internationally and in exhibitions throughout Australia since 1992. She was a finalist in the 2008 and 2011 editions of the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA).

Diamond Dove and Water Bird Dreaming

In this part of the dreaming story two birds drink water from a creek. One is the Diamond Dove (Warlpiri: kurlukuku; Latin: Geopelia cuneata) and the other is a water bird called Murlupupu in Warlpiri. The Diamond Dove has blue-green body feathers, red eyes, and a small crest on the top of its head. The murlupupu is like a duck, but bigger, and with reddish feathers.

In the painting the small tracks belong to the Diamond Dove, and the larger tracks to the water bird.