Bessie Nakamarra Sims (1932-2012) Aboriginal Artist - Intit. “dreaming Of The Short-tailed Poss

Bessie Sims Nakamarra was born (c.1932 -2012). She was one of Yuendumu's most important doyennes, both for ceremonies and from an artistic point of view.
Married to Paddy Sims Japaljarri, a great Yuendumu artist (collection of the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris), her paintings often depict the Bush Potato Dream “Ngarlaji Jukurrpa”.
This painting, entitled “The Dream of the Short-tailed Possum”, measures 76 x 46 cm.
Janganpa Jukurrpa common Brush-tail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula The dream travels throughout Warlpiri country. Janganpa are nocturnal animals that often nest in the hollows of white gum trees (wapunungka). This story comes from a large hill called Mawurrji, west of Yuendumu and north of Pikiilyri (Vaughan Springs). A group of Janganpa ancestors lived there. Every night, they set off in search of food. Their hunting parties took them to Wirlki and Wanapirdi, where they found “Pamapardu” (flying ants). They continued to Ngarlkirdipini in search of water. A Nampijinpa woman lived in Mawurrji with her two daughters. She gave her daughters in marriage to a Jupurrurla “Janganpa”, but later decided to run away with them. The Jupurrurla angrily pursued the woman. He found them in Mawurrji, where he killed them with a stone. Their bodies are stones there today. The Warlpiri practice an initiation ceremony for young men, which involves the Janganpa Jukurrpa. The Janganpa Jukurrpa belongs to jakamarra/Jupurrurla men and Nakamarra/Napurrurla women.
In Warlpiri paintings traditional iconography is used to represent this Jukurrpa. "Janganpas" tracks are often represented as "E" shaped figures and concentric circles are used to depict the trees in which the "Janganpa" live, and also the sites at Mawurrji.