`Vaughan Springs Dreaming Pikilyi` Aboriginal Painting by Faye Nangala Hudson

Faye (Theo) Nangala Hudson portrays the narrative of Pikilyi, also known as the Vaughan Springs Dreaming, a sacred waterhole that never dries up. This natural spring, situated near Mount Doreen Station, is believed to have been formed by two Rainbow Serpents who lived as a married couple. Their union, however, went against the Warlpiri religious laws due to the incompatibility between their respective clan groups. To rectify this, women came to remove lice from the bodies of these mythical beings, and in return, they were granted the privilege to access the water. Even today, Aboriginal women perform ceremonies at this location, where the spirits of these two serpents are said to dwell.In her artwork, Faye (Theo) Nangala Hudson skillfully depicts the ngawarra, or floodwaters, of this sacred site using curved and straight lines. Her attention to detail extends to the depiction of her homelands landscape. Circles represent mulju, or water wells, while short straight lines symbolise mangkurdu, or cumulus and stratocumulus clouds. These Aboriginal symbols swell under her brush, and the warm colors, characteristic of the Australian red desert, overlay one another, creating a distinctive vibrational effect that embodies the waters waves. This painting was made in 2017.Faye (Theo) Nangala Hudson was born in Alice Springs in 1989 and grew up in Nyirripi, an Aboriginal community located 440 km northwest of Alice Springs. She attended the local school until the age of fourteen. Faye began her painting journey at thirteen, in 2002, when she joined the Warlukurlangu Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal art center. Her artistic creations draw inspiration from the dreams passed down by her mother and father: Yuparli Jukurrpa (Bush Banana Dreaming) and Pikilyi Jukuurpa (Vaughan Springs Dreaming). Employing traditional Aboriginal symbols, she has developed a vibrant and personal style characterised by flat areas of pure colours and dot painting.A certificate of authenticity accompanies this artwork.