ABORIGINAL DESERT ART  GALLERY

ELIZABETH NAKAMARRA MARKS

Elizabeth is a composed and good-natured person. She was born at Papunya in 1959 and has lived in Papunya for many years with her family.

BORN CA: 1959
GROUP: LURITJA - WARLPIRI
AREA: PAPUNYA - KINTORE, WESTERN DESERT

At her birth she was promised to Old Mick Namarrari. She was married to Mick in 1980. Elizabeth has three children from her marriage to Old Mick Namarrari, a daughter aged eighteen years and two sons, one aged ten and the other aged thirteen. Elizabeth and Old Mick moved to Kintore in 1983 approximately. Later Mick established an outstation on his traditional lands named Nyunmanu. Old Mick Namarrari passed away in 1999.

Elizabeth has learned the dreamings of her father’s country ever since she was a small child. She has been deeply immersed in painting and art. She has learned the dreamings and the skills to paint from a famous group of Aboriginal Artists. These being Uta Uta, Pinta Pinta, Turkey Tolson and of course her late husband Old Mick Namarrari.

Elizabeth paints the dreaming of the kangaroo and the bush turkey. Her country lies to the east of Kintore in the Northern Territory. The specific place of this dreaming is given as a place called Kalipimpa, which lies midway between Kintore and Emu Bore to the north west of Alice Springs. These dreamings have been handed down from generation to generation for many thousands of years. Elizabeth must now keep this dreaming and pass it on to future generations so that it may be preserved.

Since her husband's death, Elizabeth has to support her family and is now painting her dreamings for public exhibition and sale. Elizabeth is a respected member of her people following a very traditional lifestyle. She takes part in women’s ceremonies and women’s painting when she is in her country and when she is called to her country.

Elizabeth is very confident and proud when speaking of her traditional ways. Raising three children and looking after all her other family obligations has made Elizabeth a very sociable and pragmatic person. She paints with gusto and with enthusiasm, painting her dreamings totally naturally and in a straightforward and delightful way.

These qualities reflect her persona and acclaim the spirit of her family, her country and her people.