Lirrwarti Creek
Milly SKEEN: artist
Lirrwarti Creek (South of Balgo)
The Wati Kutjarra Tjukurrpa (or two men dreaming) is a story that transcends many different areas of Australia. The Wati Kutjarra (two men) had a big fights here at Lirrwarti Creek and one of the men was killed. His body can still be seen in some rock formations at this site. This is part of the Lore that local people of the area still maintain. There are also a lot of bush- carrots or ‘tjirilpatja’ found here. The women go out and collect this and cook them back at camp. The top of the painting feature a water hole; knowledge of water’s location is intrinsic to life in the desert areas. In the bottom left of the work the two mean are featured as the ‘u’ shapes surrounded by their weapons including stone knives, boomerang and clubbing stick.
The Wati Kutjarra Tjukurrpa (or two men dreaming) is a story that transcends many different areas of Australia. The Wati Kutjarra (two men) had a big fights here at Lirrwarti Creek and one of the men was killed. His body can still be seen in some rock formations at this site. This is part of the Lore that local people of the area still maintain. There are also a lot of bush- carrots or ‘tjirilpatja’ found here. The women go out and collect this and cook them back at camp. The top of the painting feature a water hole; knowledge of water’s location is intrinsic to life in the desert areas. In the bottom left of the work the two mean are featured as the ‘u’ shapes surrounded by their weapons including stone knives, boomerang and clubbing stick.
Title
Lirrwarti Creek
Artist/Maker and role
Milly SKEEN: artist
Date
1990
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Measurements
100.0 x 75.0 cm
Credit line
Purchased 1993
© Milly Skeen / Copyright Agency
The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia
Accession number
1991/0022