Yarinta-rdaku-rdaku (Jurlpu) 1998(Bird Dreaming)

This print represents the travels of Yarinta-rdaku-rdaku [or Yatijarriji] a large bird [Jurlpu] with a brown breast like an eagle. It was walking around at Yampirri, near Kunajarrayi, west of Nyirrpi. Yarinta-rdaku-rdaku was both bird and man. He flew back and forth – east [kakarrara] to west [karlarra] and back again. He always returned to Yampirri where there is a cave [pirnki]. He travelled far, visiting a big bloodwood tree near the present site of Yuendumu. He even flew to Kulpurlu, to the east in Alyawarr country. Yampirri is an important men’s ceremonial site; a place to teach kajirri [‘high school’] to young men. The circle in the centre of the painting represent Yampirri. The other circles refer to places he visited on his travels. Japaljarri men are also represented. The footprints [wirliya] of Yarinta-rdaku-rdaku have been left behind.