Dadu Nungarrayi Gorey (1955- ) Aboriginal Artist - Titled "bush Banana Dreaming"

Dadu Nungarrayi Gorey was born on 2 April 1955 at Glen Allen Station, near Papunyu, a remote Aboriginal community 270 km west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. His father was originally from Kakadu, near Darwin, and came to Central Australia to work at Nowitorma Station with cattle and horses, where he met his mother who was a domestic worker. The family moved to Papunyu Community where Dadu attended school. Dadu married and had a daughter, whom she took to Yuendumu, an Aboriginal community 290 km north-west of Alice Springs, after her husband died. Since 1987, Dadu has painted for the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal-owned and operated art centre in Yuendumu. She paints the Jukurrpa (dreaming stories) of her homeland, Glen Allen Station, stories that relate directly to the land, its features and the plants and animals that live there. These stories have been passed down through generations for thousands of years. Dadu uses an unlimited palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture. The traditional motifs and icons used in her work indicate places and describe paths or movements. When Dadu and her daughter Selena Nakamarra Gorey joined the Warlukurlangu artists, they not only painted for the art centre, but also worked as maintenance workers and childcare workers. Dadu is now a grandmother and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
Yuparli (bush banana is a winding creeper which climbs up trees and shrubs, has green grey leaves and creamy flowers. after rain it grows quicky and about a month later the fruit ripen. the plant is fire tolerant and often produces numerous fruit after fire. this is an important and favoured food source. The sweet flowers and the young fruits are eaten raw, and are mostly cooked. the older leaves are eaten after being steamed, but the younger leaves are eaten without any preparation. the only parts of the plants that are not eaten are the hard branches and the roots. when the fruit matures it releases numerous light feathery seeds that can be carried a long distance by the wind. women collect "yuparli" in "parrajas" (food carriers).
This Dreaming belong to Napanangka/Npangardi women and Japangardi men.