Narputta Nangala Jugadai

Narputta’s paintings depict the country around Karrkurutinyja

Narputta Nangala is one of my most favourite people ever and I am happy she called me ‘granddaughter’.

Narputta loved family, had a wonderful sense of humour, was gentle and a fantastic artist who is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, state galleries and many private collections.

Narputta with Daisy, Cynthia, Sonya, grandchildren. Linx and sister, Trina, in front of Narputta's house in Hasts Bluff

Narputta loved to paint her father’s country where she was born, Karrkurutinyja, also known as Lake Macdonald, is a remote, ephemeral salt lake located on the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory in Central Australia. Covering a large area southwest of Kintore, it only holds water after significant rainfall. Typically a dry salt pan, it provides a stark, vast white landscape in the desert.

Narputta working on one of her paintings

Narputta’s paintings depict the country around Karrkurutinyja and the ‘slash’ of white of Karrkurutinyja. 

Whilst Narputta was painting she would tell her father’s story and how she and I had to drive out to Karrkurutinyja to fence off the area where he was buried to stop the camels.

I used to say I thought we might need more help rather than just the two of us and that it could take us a long time to get the supplies out to the WA border and build that fence.

Narputta would respond’ Wiya (no) just you and me and we’ll make a quick one.”  

And we would continue our planning - as Narputta continued her painting of Karrkurutinyja.