Mainie: A unique melding of authentic Aboriginal art and luxurious fashion
Mainie's beautifully handcrafted Desert Rain Dreaming pure silk scarf brings to life an original painting, Ngapa Jukurrpa, by highly acclaimed Warlpiri Aboriginal artist, Bessie Nakamarra Sims.
THE ARTWORK
Ngapa Jukurrpa (Desert Rain Dreaming)
The original painting depicts an ancient Dreaming Story about how smoke rising from a fire formed a large storm cloud in the sky. A bird carried the storm cloud over the desert to the west where it fell to the ground as rain.
Ngapa means water in the Warlpiri language.
The Ngapa Jukurrpa has been handed down from one generation to the next over tens of thousands of years.
The Warlpiri are a desert people and water is the essence of all life throughout their arid homelands.
Much of the Warlpiri people's traditional storytelling and art celebrates the coming of the annual rain season that brings with it, an abundance of water and new life in the desert.
The vivid colours of the original painting reflect the unique beauty of the desert sky and landscape after the rain.
THE ARTIST
Bessie Nakamarra Sims
"I like painting ‘cause it's my Dreaming. I like to teach kids my Dreaming. I want everyone to know my Dreaming from all over the world. I know and they can know."
Bessie Nakamarra Sims was born in the bush in the 1930s and lived for many years on the traditional homelands of her Warlpiri ancestors before first coming into contact with white people.
Due to the geographical isolation of their tribal lands in the remote Tanami Desert region of Central Australia, the Warlpiri were among the last Aboriginal people to make contact with Europeans.
To this day, the Warlpiri people hold a strong and unbroken connection to their ancestral lands, culture and language.
Bessie Nakamarra Sims was the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims, a renowned artist both nationally and internationally.
Bessie and Paddy were among the founding artists with the world acclaimed Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation when it was first established in 1985.
Warlukurlangu has long been an important stronghold for the preservation of the Warlpiri culture and language.
Bessie and Paddy had seven children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bessie was one of the most valued members of the Warlukurlangu artists community. She painted consistently with the Warlukurlangu art centre and exhibited both nationally and internationally in group exhibitions.
Bessie often painted the Ngapa Jukurrpa, a traditional Water Dreaming story. For desert people like the Warlpiri, the rare but welcome occurrences of rain and storms continue to be significant themes in their storytelling, art and ceremonies.
Bessie Nakamarra Sims passed away in Yuendumu in May 2012 surrounded by her extended family. Her husband had passed away two years previously. Among of Bessie's last words were, "Japaljarri [my husband] is calling me, he is waiting for me."
Sacred Water Dreaming site on the Warlpiri homelands in the Tanami Desert
Mainie Australia embraces social responsibility principles and is committed to supporting Aboriginal women artists from some of the most isolated and disadvantaged communities in Central Australia to earn an independent living from their own work and preserve their traditional cultural heritage for future generations.
All designs in the Mainie silk scarf collection are based on original artworks that have been ethically acquired under licence from Aboriginal-owned and operated art centres in accordance with the Indigenous Art Code. Royalties are paid to the Aboriginal artists and their families.
Every Mainie made gives back to the Aboriginal woman artist who created the original design, to elevate and empower her, her family and her community.
Proudly Australian owned and operated, Mainie is a Supply Nation verified Indigenous owned business and an Indigenous Art Code approved dealer member.
Learn more at www.mainie.com.au