ABORIGINAL DESERT ART  GALLERY

DOROTHY NAPANGARDI ROBINSON

Dorothy Robinson Napangardi belongs to the Warlpiri language group from Pikilyi.

This place is situated west of Yuendumu and is approximately 385 kilometers north west of Alice Springs. Dorothy paints in the traditional manner of the Kurawarri (dreaming) The Pikilyi site is considered sacred to its people. The land is contained within the boundaries of a pastoral lease.

The Pikilyi people often visit the site to maintain their dreaming and to pass their knowledge on to the younger generation. As well, it is also important to have their Dreamtime passed on in the form of paintings as the adjustment to modern living is made.

While Dorothy learnt about her country and the Dreamtime through her mother singing dancing and telling stories, so will her children learn from her, listening to the stories and the songs she sings .

Dorothy has won the Museum's and Art Gallerie's Award for the best artwork in Western Media at the National Aboriginal Art Award 1991. This artwork is now part of a permanent collection for the Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory. Dorothy has been painting for Michael Hollow Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery, in Alice Springs - Melbourne and Sydney since 1989.