“When I was little, I used to stand up all the time, looking for the old people to come back bringing food. The old people gave me that name, Nyanjilpayi [‘standing up’].”
- Nyanjilpayi (Ngarnjapayi) Nancy Chapman
"When I was born my spirit appeared at Jarntinti. That's my Country, Jarntinti. I know all about it, about that water over there, about my home, our grandparent's Country. We travelled all around as pujiman, camping and then setting off again by foot. We didn't get tired. We just kept on going. Sometimes it would rain, so we would build a shelter, just like a tent. Inside we would light a fire. Our pujiman lifestyle was very healthy and we didn't get sick very often. Even when it was cold we continued to walk around in good health.
I'm working on my painting of those waterholes, I was drinking from them long ago as a pujimanpa (traditional, desert dweller). My family's water, my grandmother's, my grandfathers and my ancestors. I was taught from them. Our knowledge is ancient and has been passed on by our grandparents. Young people need to keep looking after it."
- Nyanjilpayi Nancy Chapman as translated by Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa
Nyanjilpayi (c. 1940- 2024) was a Manyjilyjarry woman, born in the 1940s at Jarntinti, a large claypan at the southern end of Nyayartakujarra (Ngayarta Kujarra, Lake Dora) and within the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) region. She was the sister of fellow senior Martumili Artists Mulyatingki Marney, Mayiwalku Chapman and Marjorie Yates (dec). As children, Nyanjilpayi and her family walked around the Punmu, Kunawarritji (Canning Stock Route Well 33) and Karlamilyi regions. A severe and prolonged drought during this time made life extremely difficult. Although her family knew of Jigalong Mission, where a supply of rationed food and water was assured, they chose to continue to live nomadically and independently on Country for many years.
Both of Nyanjilpayi’s parents passed away when she and her siblings were still very young, leaving them to survive by themselves in the desert. For a time the sisters travelled alone, occasionally meeting and travelling with other people and family groups that cared for them, including renowned artists Eubena Nampitjin (dec.) and Nora Nunagbar (Nyangapa) (dec.). Eventually, Nyanjilpayi and her sisters walked to Balfour Downs, where they were collected by Jigalong Mission staff. At Jigalong she met her husband, Minyawe Miller (dec.). Together the couple lived and worked together on several cattle stations throughout the Pilbara, and later mined for minerals with a yandy (winnowing dish) whilst raising their children. In the 1980s the family relocated to Punmu Aboriginal community as foundational members during the ‘Return to Country’ movement, later living between Punmu, Newman and Port Hedland.
Nyanjilpayi was one of Martumili’s pioneering artists. Renowned for her energetic, diverse, and experimental approach to painting, and has developed a range of unique and technically sophisticated styles. Nyanjilpayi’s artworks depict her ngurra (home Country, camp), the Country she walked as a young woman; its animals, plants, waterholes and associated Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narratives. Her work has been exhibited widely across Australia and internationally, and acquired by the National Museum of Australia.
WATCH NYANJILPAYI'S ARTIST PROFILE FILM
COLLECTIONS
National Museum of Australia, ACT
Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA
