Mona Rockman Napaljarri facts for kids

Mona Rockman Napaljarri (born around 1924) is an amazing Warlpiri-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. Her beautiful paintings and pottery are so good that they are kept in the National Gallery of Victoria, which is a very important art museum.

Mona Rockman's Life

Mona Rockman was born about 100 years ago, around 1924. Her birthplace was a place called Mongrel Downs, which is now known as Tanami Downs pastoral station. This area is in the Northern Territory, about 700 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.

What is a Skin Name?

Napaljarri is a special name called a skin name. In the Warlpiri language, it's Napaljarri, and in other Western Desert languages, it's Napaltjarri. These skin names are used by Indigenous people in central Australia. They help show how people are related to each other.

There are sixteen different skin names. They help people understand who they can marry and might be linked to special totems (important animals or natural things). Even though they can be used to address someone, they are not like surnames (family names) that many people use. So, 'Mona Rockman' is the part of her name that is just for her.

Mona was one of six children. Her mother was Milkila Jungarayi. Mona's sisters, Biddy Rockman Napaljarri and Peggy Rockman Napaljarri, are also artists. Mona Rockman is also one of the traditional owners of the land around Tanami Downs. This means her family has a long history and connection to that land.

Mona Rockman's Art

How Western Desert Art Began

Modern Indigenous art from the Western Desert started in 1971. This happened when Indigenous men in Papunya began painting with help from a teacher named Geoffrey Bardon. They used acrylic paints to create designs that looked like traditional body painting and ground sculptures.

This new style of art quickly became popular across Indigenous communities in central Australia. A government art program started in 1983, which helped it spread even more. By the 1980s and 1990s, this art was being shown all over the world.

At first, only men were painting, and some men in central Australia didn't want women to paint. However, many women wanted to be part of it too. In the 1990s, many Indigenous women began creating their own paintings. In places like Kintore, Yuendumu, Balgo, and on the outstations, people started making art specifically to show and sell.

Mona Rockman's Career

Mona Rockman likely started painting through a special course in 1986. This course was held in Lajamanu and was run by an adult education officer named John Quinn. At first, only men attended the course, but eventually, over a hundred people from the community joined. Other artists who started their careers there include Louisa Napaljarri and Mona's sister, Peggy Rockman.

Western Desert artists like Mona often paint specific 'dreamings'. These are special stories or responsibilities that they have. Mona's dreamings are Ngatijiiri (which is a budgerigar) and Warna (which is a snake). Besides painting, Mona has also created beautiful pottery. Her work, both paintings and pottery, has been shown at the National Gallery of Victoria.