Miriam Napanangka
Born about 1950
Kukatja, Manyjiljarra language groups, Napanangka skin group
Kiwirrkurra community
Papunya Tula Artists
Miriam is the daughter of Wimmitji Tjapangarti, and the sister of Lucy Yukenbarri. She was a young girl when a helicopter landed at Natawalu and took her sick young brother-in-law to Balgo. She and her family did not follow him to Balgo immediately, but went back hunting around Kukupanyu (Well 39) before travelling north to the mission. She lives in Kiwirrkurra with her husband Patrick Tjungurrayi and their children.
Katajilkarr to Kaningarra
2007, by Miriam Napanangka
acrylic on linen, 77×54 cm
Papunya Tula Artists
National Museum of Australia
This painting recalls part of the artist’s journey walking north along the Canning Stock Route towards Balgo in 1958. The central circle is Kaningarra rock hole (near Well 48), where her family stopped to rest and drink. From there, Miriam and her family followed the wells north to Paruku (Lake Gregory), finally arriving at old Balgo mission.
