30cm x 30cm
Barbara Reid Napangardi was born near Tjukurla, Western Australia. She grew up in this country and was part of the family of famous Australian National Gallery Artist, Ningura Napurulla. The important women’s stories that Barbara paints today were passed onto her by her famous Aunt. We have seen the similarities between these two women when they collaborate together, however, the differences at times are abundantly obvious also. Barbara chooses much bolder colours than Ningura used in her works. Barbara’s artworks depict a ceremonial site near Tjukurla, where she was born and raised. Most works by this artist tell the story of the bushfoods collected by the women for the birthing ceremony. During this ceremony, the newborn baby is bathed in smoke from the camp fire, wherein the child is held near the fire and the smoke is fanned over them. The women are not permitted to watch the ceremony and are given the task of collecting the bush food while this is taking place. Only the baby’s mother, aunties and grandmother are obliged present. The women are then sent away to wait for the ceremony to finish. This is a very important and sacred ceremony, as this smoking ceremony wards off evil spirits from the nearby salt lake. Barbara tells us that if the ceremony is not performed the child will be stolen by the spirits and never seen again.
Barbara Reid-Napangardi alizaliwa karibu na Tjukurla, Australia Magharibi. Alipata elimu ya sekondari katika chuo kikuu cha Australia na alikuwa mwana wa msanii maarufu wa Australia, Ningura Napurula. Hadithi muhimu za wanawake ambazo Barbara anachora leo zilipitishwa kwake na shangazi yake mashuhuri. Tunaona kufanana kati ya wanawake hao wawili wakati wanashirikiana, hata hivyo, tofauti wakati mwingine ni dhahiri pia. Barbara huchagua rangi zenye ujasiri zaidi kuliko zile ambazo Ningura hutumia katika kazi zake. Kazi za sanaa za Barbara zinaonyesha eneo la sherehe karibu na Tjukurla, ambapo alizaliwa na kulelewa. Kazi nyingi za msanii huyo husimulia hadithi ya vyakula vya mwituni vilivyokusanywa na wanawake kwa ajili ya sherehe ya kuzaa. Katika sherehe hii, mtoto mchanga huogeshwa katika moshi kutoka moto wa kambi, ambapo mtoto hufanyika karibu na moto na moshi huenea juu yao. Wanawake hawawezi kushuhudia sherehe hiyo na wanapewa kazi ya kukusanya chakula cha mwituni wakati huo. Ni mama wa mtoto, shangazi na nyanya tu wanaohitajika kuhudhuria. Kisha wanawake hao wanatumwa waendelee na sherehe hiyo. Ni sherehe ya kipekee na ya kipekee kwa sababu huondoa roho mbaya kutoka kwenye ziwa la chumvi. Barbara anatuambia kwamba ikiwa sherehe hiyo haitafanywa mtoto ataibiwa na roho na hatataonekana tena kamwe.