This special canvas is a collaborative painting of senior artists Willy Muntjantji Martin and his wife Judy Martin. Both artists now live in Mimili Community, but are custodians of stories that talk about the country around Nyapari, in the far North-West of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
Muntjantji's strong brush drawing tells the Wanampi Tjukurpa (Water Snake Dreaming). This story, which took place around Piltati, explains how the land was shapedby the wanampi(water snake), how rock holes were formed and mountain ranges grew.
Judy paints her father's country, Wakura, also near Nyapari. Her focus lies on the importance of the water sources in the area,which have been guarded and cared for by her father's family since the beginning of time. Judy maps thekapi tjukulaamongstthepuli(mountain ranges) and tali(sand hills) of Wakura. Together, husband and wife tell the story of how the land was formed, and how to care for it today: "It’s important that we hold our culture, our stories, our connection to country strong for malatja-malatja (future generations) – that’s why I make paintings." (Willy Muntjantji Martin)