Purrpalanji (Skinny Bush Banana) Jukurrpa

‘Purrpalanji’ (skinny bush banana [Rhyncharrhena linearis]) is a
twining climber with thin leaves and pink-brown flowers. Its
bean-like edible pods are long and skinny, and can grow up to
20 cm long. It is fire tolerant and grows quickly whenever
moisture is available. Like ‘yuparli’ (bush banana [Marsdenia
australis]), all of the plant is eaten aside from the woody stems.
This ‘purrpalanji Jukurrpa’ (skinny bush banana Dreaming)
comes from Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), a large waterhole and
natural spring to the west of Yuendumu, close to Mount
Doreen. Napangardi/Napanangka women and
Japangardi/Japanangka men are the ‘kirda’ (owners) of the
skinny bush banana Dreaming at Pikilyi. Nangala women and
Jangala men are the ‘kurdungurlu’ (custodians) of this
Dreaming.
Napangardi and Napanangka women collect ‘purrpalanji’
(skinny bush banana) and ‘yuparli’ (bush banana) around Pikilyi
in their ‘parraja’ (coolamons). They cook the ‘purrpalanji’ and
‘yuparli’ in hot ashes to get rid of the acidic taste they can have
when eaten raw. The skinny bush banana Dreaming is only
associated with Pikilyi, and does not travel to other locations.
Pikilyi is an important site associated with a number of
different Dreamings. These include ‘yuparli Jukurrpa’ (bush
banana Dreaming), ‘warrilyi ngurlu Jukurrpa’ (blue mallee
[Eucalyptus polybractea] seed Dreaming), ‘kakalyalya Jukurrpa’
(cockatoo Dreaming), and ‘warna-jarra Jukurrpa’ (two snakes
Dreaming). In the two snakes Dreaming story, Napangardi and
Napanangka women picked lice off of the two snakes living in
the waterhole at Pikilyi.
In Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography is used to
represent the Jukurrpa and other elements. Curved lines are
used to represent the long, skinny edible portion of the
‘purrpalanji’ (skinny bush banana).

ARTIST: NOLA NAPANGARDI FISHER

GARMENT INFO

Organically grown wild bamboo
Loose fit
Chest pocket
Bamboo wood-look buttons

COMPOSITION

65% Bamboo Fiber 35% Cotton