Home / Collections / Madeleine Napangardi Dixon / Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina No.4

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By Madeleine Napangardi Dixon

Skin Name, Napangardi

Jukurrpa (Dreaming):
Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina

This ‘majardi Jukurrpa’ (hairstring skirt/tassel Dreaming) comes from Mina Mina. Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and Napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border. The area has a ‘marluri’ (salt lake or claypan) that is usually dry, without water. There are also a number of ‘mulju’ (soakages), sandhills, and a large stand of ‘kurrkara’ (desert oaks). The Mina Mina Jukurrpa is an important source of Warlpiri ritual knowledge and social organization, particularly relating to the different roles performed by men and women.

The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this Jukurrpa are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. There are a number of different Jukurrpa associated with Mina Mina; artists usually choose to depict one particular Jukurrpa in their paintings. In addition to ‘majardi’ (hairstring skirts), these can include ‘karnta’ (women), ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks), ‘ngalyipi’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina]), ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]), and ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]).

The Mina Mina Jukurrpa tells the story of a group of ancestral ‘karnta’ (women) who traveled from west to east. In the Dreamtime, these ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. They collected these digging sticks and started travelling to the east. They carried their digging sticks over their shoulders and they were adorned with white feathers, necklaces made from ‘yinirnti’ (bean tree [Erythrina vespertilio]) seeds, and ‘majardi’ (hairstring skirts), which this painting depicts. ‘Majardi’ are skirts or pubic tassels made of ‘purdurru’ (spun hair from humans, wallabies, or possums). ‘Purdurru’ is made by first rolling the hair or fur on the thigh, and then spinning it into string using a ‘wirinykurru’ (spindle). ‘Majardi’ consist of a hairstring belt with strands of hairstring hanging down.

The decorated women continuously anointed themselves with ‘minyira’ (shiny fat) to increase their ritual powers as they went along. As the women travelled, they were followed by a ‘yinkardakurdaku’ (spotted nightjar [Eurostopodus argus]) from the Jakamarra subsection. The bird would call out and then hide in the bushes behind them as they travelled.

When the women danced at Mina Mina, they created a large dust cloud that swept up the ‘walyankarna’ (snake ancestors). The ‘walyankarna’ had previously transformed themselves from witchetty grubs into snakes at Kunajarrayi (Mount Nicker, 200km southwest of Yuendumu), and they had stopped at Mina Mina to watch the women dance. This dust cloud blew the ‘walyankarna’ further north to Yaturluyaturlu (near the Granites gold mine). In this way, the ‘karnta Jukurrpa’ (women’s Dreaming) and ‘ngarlkirdi Jukurrpa’ (witchetty grub Dreaming) intersect. This allowed the ancestral women to observe the witchetty grubs and learn how to best locate and cook them, which are skills that Warlpiri women still use today.

The women went east from Mina Mina, dancing, digging for bush tucker, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snakevine), and creating many places as they went. As the women went east, they passed through Kimayi (a stand of ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak)). They passed through sandhill country where the ‘yarla’ (bush potato or ‘big yam’ [Ipomea costata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa and the ‘ngarlajiyi’ (pencil yam or ‘small yam’ [Vigna lanceolata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa were engaged in a huge battle over women. This battle is also a very important Warlpiri Jukurrpa narrative. The women went on to Janyinki and stopped at Wakakurrku (Mala Bore), where they stuck their digging sticks in the ground. These digging sticks turned into mulga trees, which still grow at Wakakurrku today. The women then went on to Lungkardajarra (Rich Bore), where they looked back towards their country in the west and started to feel homesick for what they’d left behind.

The women split up at Lungkardajarra. Some of them travelled eastwards to Yarungkanyi (Mount Doreen), and kept going east. They passed through Coniston in Anmatyerre country, and then went on to Alcoota and Aileron and beyond. The other group of women travelled travelled northwards from Lungkardajarra to Karntakurlangu. These women stopped at Karntakurlangu (an area that literally means ‘belonging to women’) to dig for ‘wardapi’ (sand monitor/goanna [Varanus gouldii]) and ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle) before travelling further north. However, both groups of women eventually got so homesick for their desert oak country in the west that they went all the way back to Mina Mina, where they stayed for good.

The Mina Mina Jukurrpa (of which this ‘majardi’ Jukurrpa is a part) contains important information about the different roles that men and women play in Warlpiri culture, particularly in the context of ritual performance. It alludes to an earlier time in which their ritual and social roles were reversed, in which women controlled the sacred objects and weapons that are now exclusively “owned” by men.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites, and other elements. In paintings of this ‘majardi’ Jukurrpa, the hairstring skirts/belts are represented by wavy lines suspended from a single curved line.

By Madeleine Napangardi Dixon

Skin Name, Napangardi

Jukurrpa (Dreaming):
Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina

This ‘majardi Jukurrpa’ (hairstring skirt/tassel Dreaming) comes from Mina Mina. Mina Mina is an extremely important ceremonial site for Napangardi and Napanangka women that is located approximately 600kms west of Yuendumu, just east of Lake Mackay and the WA border. The area has a ‘marluri’ (salt lake or claypan) that is usually dry, without water. There are also a number of ‘mulju’ (soakages), sandhills, and a large stand of ‘kurrkara’ (desert oaks). The Mina Mina Jukurrpa is an important source of Warlpiri ritual knowledge and social organization, particularly relating to the different roles performed by men and women.

The ‘kirda’ (owners) of this Jukurrpa are Napangardi/Napanangka women and Japangardi/Japanangka men. There are a number of different Jukurrpa associated with Mina Mina; artists usually choose to depict one particular Jukurrpa in their paintings. In addition to ‘majardi’ (hairstring skirts), these can include ‘karnta’ (women), ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks), ‘ngalyipi’ (snakevine [Tinospora smilacina]), ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak [Allocasuarina decaisneana]), and ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle [Elderia arenivaga]).

The Mina Mina Jukurrpa tells the story of a group of ancestral ‘karnta’ (women) who traveled from west to east. In the Dreamtime, these ancestral women danced at Mina Mina and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) rose up out of the ground. They collected these digging sticks and started travelling to the east. They carried their digging sticks over their shoulders and they were adorned with white feathers, necklaces made from ‘yinirnti’ (bean tree [Erythrina vespertilio]) seeds, and ‘majardi’ (hairstring skirts), which this painting depicts. ‘Majardi’ are skirts or pubic tassels made of ‘purdurru’ (spun hair from humans, wallabies, or possums). ‘Purdurru’ is made by first rolling the hair or fur on the thigh, and then spinning it into string using a ‘wirinykurru’ (spindle). ‘Majardi’ consist of a hairstring belt with strands of hairstring hanging down.

The decorated women continuously anointed themselves with ‘minyira’ (shiny fat) to increase their ritual powers as they went along. As the women travelled, they were followed by a ‘yinkardakurdaku’ (spotted nightjar [Eurostopodus argus]) from the Jakamarra subsection. The bird would call out and then hide in the bushes behind them as they travelled.

When the women danced at Mina Mina, they created a large dust cloud that swept up the ‘walyankarna’ (snake ancestors). The ‘walyankarna’ had previously transformed themselves from witchetty grubs into snakes at Kunajarrayi (Mount Nicker, 200km southwest of Yuendumu), and they had stopped at Mina Mina to watch the women dance. This dust cloud blew the ‘walyankarna’ further north to Yaturluyaturlu (near the Granites gold mine). In this way, the ‘karnta Jukurrpa’ (women’s Dreaming) and ‘ngarlkirdi Jukurrpa’ (witchetty grub Dreaming) intersect. This allowed the ancestral women to observe the witchetty grubs and learn how to best locate and cook them, which are skills that Warlpiri women still use today.

The women went east from Mina Mina, dancing, digging for bush tucker, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snakevine), and creating many places as they went. As the women went east, they passed through Kimayi (a stand of ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak)). They passed through sandhill country where the ‘yarla’ (bush potato or ‘big yam’ [Ipomea costata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa and the ‘ngarlajiyi’ (pencil yam or ‘small yam’ [Vigna lanceolata]) ancestors from Yumurrpa were engaged in a huge battle over women. This battle is also a very important Warlpiri Jukurrpa narrative. The women went on to Janyinki and stopped at Wakakurrku (Mala Bore), where they stuck their digging sticks in the ground. These digging sticks turned into mulga trees, which still grow at Wakakurrku today. The women then went on to Lungkardajarra (Rich Bore), where they looked back towards their country in the west and started to feel homesick for what they’d left behind.

The women split up at Lungkardajarra. Some of them travelled eastwards to Yarungkanyi (Mount Doreen), and kept going east. They passed through Coniston in Anmatyerre country, and then went on to Alcoota and Aileron and beyond. The other group of women travelled travelled northwards from Lungkardajarra to Karntakurlangu. These women stopped at Karntakurlangu (an area that literally means ‘belonging to women’) to dig for ‘wardapi’ (sand monitor/goanna [Varanus gouldii]) and ‘jintiparnta’ (desert truffle) before travelling further north. However, both groups of women eventually got so homesick for their desert oak country in the west that they went all the way back to Mina Mina, where they stayed for good.

The Mina Mina Jukurrpa (of which this ‘majardi’ Jukurrpa is a part) contains important information about the different roles that men and women play in Warlpiri culture, particularly in the context of ritual performance. It alludes to an earlier time in which their ritual and social roles were reversed, in which women controlled the sacred objects and weapons that are now exclusively “owned” by men.

In contemporary Warlpiri paintings, traditional iconography can be used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites, and other elements. In paintings of this ‘majardi’ Jukurrpa, the hairstring skirts/belts are represented by wavy lines suspended from a single curved line.

Both Unframed and Framed Prints are Giclée printed on 260gsm matte paper. You can choose to include a 5cm Print Border around the image or have it printed 'edge to edge' with no border.

Framed Prints are archivally mounted then framed in a high quality, sustainable Australian timber. The timber frame is 4cm in depth and has a 2cm face reveal.

Framed Canvas are Giclée printed on 350gsm matte satin canvas and framed in our signature Canvas Float Frame. This specialty moulding has a 7mm face reveal and allows an elegant shadow line between the canvas and the frame. Canvas are printed 'edge to edge', with the image meeting the edge of the canvas.

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With both Unframed and Framed Prints you may choose to include a PRINT border around the image. Print borders are an unprinted area surrounding the image.

Please note the border size is included in the overall size. Adding a border will reduce the size of your image, for example adding a 5cm border on a 50x70cm print means the image size will be reduced to 40x60cm.

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The sizes listed in the above drop-down are based on the PRINT size. Please see the table below to find out the finish size of framed prints and canvas.

Landscape & Portait Prints
Unframed Print	Framed Print / Canvas
50 x 70cm	53 x 73cm
60 x 90cm	63 x 93cm
70 x 100cm	73 x 103cm
80 x 110cm	83 x 113cm
90 x 130cm	93 x 133cm
100 x 150cm	103 x 153cm

Square Prints
Unframed Print	Framed Print / Canvas
50 x 50cm	53 x 53cm
60 x 60cm	63 x 63cm
70 x 70cm	73 x 73cm
80 x 80cm	83 x 83cm
100 x 100cm	103 x 103cm

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Frame orders ship approximately 14 business days from the order date.

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Non-Metro Areas within Australia	3-10 business days
International	contact our team

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Posters, photographs and art prints are carefully rolled with protective paper to protect against dust before being packaged in a tube.

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As soon as your order is dispatched, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a tracking number. Tracking is not provided for international standard shipments. All orders will be labelled with an Authority to Leave notice.

Frame orders take approximately 14 business days to complete, whilst Print orders take around 5 business days. On completion, you will be notified by our team that your order is ready to collect.

Please be aware, as all our products are made to order, turnaround time can be subject to delays related to availability of materials.

Don't hesitate to contact us if your order is time sensitive and we will do our best to accommodate.

Customer Reviews

Name: Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina No.4
Brand: Madeleine Napangardi Dixon
SKU: Madeleine_Napangardi_Dixon
Price: 220.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

Great quality and service

My artwork is fabulous and I am really happy with the service I received and the excellent delivery service

Hi Susan! Thank you for the lovely review. We are thrilled you are happy with your Artwork and our Services

Brilliant

Beautiful piece of artwork and excellent customer service

Hi Naomi! Thank you for the review! We are so pleased you are happy with your Artwork and our Customer Service

Great service

Hi Steve! Thank you for the review. We are so pleased you are happy with our service and we hope you are enjoying your gorgeous new print!

Quality!

Arthouse is quality and totally worth the money! We love our framed Canvas prints we have ordered. Gives our house a much more expensive and styled feel.

Hi Renee! We are thrilled you are happy with your Framed Canvas. 'Lady in Orange' is one of our personal favourites. You have fabulous taste!

Custom made collage

Arthouse Co were very accommodating and provided professional and very helpful advice which made the whole process very streamlined. I would purchase from Arthouse Co again.

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Great service

ArtHouse Co has an amazing variety of mirrors & prints and excellent service.

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Obsessed

We purchased this as an Oak Framed Canvas and it is sooooo nice! The quality is amazing, we ended up immediately purchasing another canvas after being so happy with this one!

Hi Renee! We are so pleased you are happy with your Framed Canvas. She is one of our personal favourites too.
X Arthouseco Team

EXCELLENT

Thanks Caroline!

Happy chappies

Professional and friendly service.
It took less than a week for our framed print to arrive and we love it.

Thank you Angela! We are thrilled to hear you had a good experience with us

Excellent quality

Very happy with the quality of this print, and the care that was taken to ensure it arrived undamaged. Thank you!

Thank you Louise! We are thrilled you are happy with your print and our services

Arthouse are amazing

I asked Arthouse for help with recommending artwork for my new apartment. I’m stoked with all the pieces Jess suggested and am really happy with the final outcome.

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Incredible art pieces

Fabulous business! Incredibly professional service with a fast turn around and high quality art pieces. Marianne from the Marrickville showroom was incredibly helpful with assisting us select art pieces for our terrace. We needed our art works within a few days of making our selections. As promised, all our art pieces were delivered on time. Highly recommend using Arthouse & Co!

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X Arthouse co Team

Best of the Best

The ArtHouse team did a remarkable job of finding the most perfect pieces for our new home. They were patient throughout the process and I cannot wait to purchase more pieces. Thank you!!

Hi Nat! Thank you so much for the lovely review. It was an absolute pleasure working with you and we look forward to working with you again.
X Arthouseco Team

Happy buyer

Happy with product, framing is always well done. Delivery is easy. Print looks great.

Hi Karen! Thank you for the review. We are thrilled you are happy with your Print and our Services
X Arthouseco Team

Gorgeous print

Got this in the 70x100 and the quality is great. Feel so serene around this print.

Thanks Lauretta for the review! We love this print too

Perfect mirror

Absolutely love our new mirror!, it finishes off our walkin perfectly.

Hi Amanda! Thank you for the lovely review! We are thrilled to hear you are happy with your Mirror

Beautiful quality print and frame

Stunning print, beautiful quality of the print and the frame.

Hi Ashley! Thank you so much for the lovely review. We are thrilled you are happy with your selection.
x Arthouseco Team

Quick, quality, friendly

I received my prints within the expected time frame. The quality was excellent and the staff very polite.

Hi Jaimee! Thank you for the wonderful review. We are thrilled you are happy with your prints and our service.

Wonderful product as always! Long time customer, always happy!

Forest

IExcellent customer service , was nervous about ordering on line . The framed artwork is perfect , made of high qualit,came well boxed and protected. A special thank you to Maryanne , love it !!!!

Hi Julie! Thank you for the lovely reviews. We are thrilled you are happy with your artwork and our services. You made fantastic choices and they look gorgeous in your space!

Very Happy

Very nice piece. Quick delivery. Very happy overall with quality.

Hi Ryan! Thank you for the lovely review. We are thrilled you love your piece. Its one of our personal favourites too

Beautiful

Great design, very well made and framed. Arrived quickly and carefully packaged. Would highly recommend this store!

Hi Julie! We are so thrilled you are happy with your print and our services. Thank you for the lovely review

Fantastic picture

Good packing condition, thoughtfully left inside building and near the lift. Canvas quality is excellent and it enhanced my room vibe.

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Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina No.4

Customer Reviews

Majardi Jukurrpa (Hairstring Belt/Skirt or Tassel Dreaming) – Mina Mina No.4

Customer Reviews

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