$875.00
1 in stock
Kathleen Maree Sorensen
Acrylic on Linen
46 x 76 cm
Year: 2024
24-377
Rabbit Proof Fence, Creek line to Lake Disappointment and Jilukurru.
“When I went back to my County, I thought how beautiful the spinifex was. How the sun glazed against the spinifex. The county that I speak of is Jilukurru, my grandfather’s Country.”
“My Nanna, Molly Kelly, walked the Rabbit Proof Fence. My ancestors are from Lake Disappointment and my Grandfather’s country is Jilukurru. Jilukurru is also known as Killagurra Springs and is on the Canning Stock Route, Well 17. The creek line to Lake Disappointment is called Savory creek.”
– Kathleen Maree Sorenson
Jilukurru (Killagurra Springs, Canning Stock Route Well 17) is a yinta (permanent spring) located in the hills and gorges yapurra (west) of Kumpupirntily (Kumpupintily, Lake Disappointment). This spring was an important site for meetings during the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era.
Jilukurru is also sacred for its relation to the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narrative of the Wati Kujarra (Two Goanna Men), one of the key foundational myths for Western Desert people, and for this reason access to the site is respectfully restricted. The Wati Kujarra existed as half men, half goanna. They were responsible for the creation of many land features in Martu Country and beyond as they travelled, hunted and burned Country together. Wati Kujarra is a ngurlu (sacred, taboo) men’s story, and much of the content is only shared with initiated men.
At Jilukurru, the Wati Kujarra lived for a time. Here they also trimmed their ngarnkurrpa (beards). On one of the rocky headlands of the range system, the form of the two men can be seen, with their long beards rolling down the escarpment. After the Wati Kujarra left Jilukurru the site became home to an ancestral rainmaking jila (snake).
Sign up to Martumili Artists’ mailing list to receive artist news, special offers, and shop updates.
Martumili Artists warns visitors that our website includes images and artworks of Artists who have passed away which may cause distress to some Indigenous people.
Martumili Artists acknowledges the Nyiyaparli and Martu people as the Traditional Owners of the land we live and work on. We also acknowledge the Traditional Owners throughout our country and our Elders; past, present and emerging.