Nora Wompi

Kukatja Language Group

“Kunawarritji”

75 x 50cm

Ref No: BA20805

Nora has painted some of her country located near her home community of Kunawarritji (Well 33). This country is south west of Balgo along the middle stretches of the Canning Stock Route. The circles in the painting represent pamarr (hills) and the lines are tali (sandhills). This country is good for collecting bush foods including pura (bush tomato) and kantjilyi (bush raisin).

Nora was born circa 1935 in the Great Sandy Desert in a place called Lilbaru. This is close to Well 33 on the Canning Stock Route. Here she lived a traditional nomadic life until her early twenties. Wompi recalls that it was near Well 33 that she saw a white person for the first time. Nomadic life was harsh during dry times and she tells of the long walk into Balgo Mission with her mother and brother. In Balgo she cooked bread at the bakery and tended to the goats. This is also where she met her husband, brother of the late artist Lucy Yukenbarri. Wompi and her husband would paint together, as is common with husband and wife in Balgo. They spent some time in Fitzroy Crossing until her husband passed away. Wompi then decided to return to Well 33 where she continues to reside today. She visits Balgo regularly to see family and to paint. Her work oscillates between intricate tracings of familiar country and painterly strokes of bold colour, stories of spirit men, spirit dogs and love magic.