Originally from Yuendumu in the Central Desert, Ritasha Watson evokes here the Dream (Jukurrpa) linked to the Possum Ancestor whom the Aborigines call Janganpa.

Australian possums are small nocturnal marsupials that make their nests in the trunks of eucalyptus trees. These trees are used by Aboriginal people to make medicinal remedies as well as tools, spears and more.

Legend has it that in the Dreamtime, a group of Janganpa lived on a large hill called Mawurrji, to the west of Yuendumu. Every evening, they would set off in search of food, particularly flying ants (pamapardu in Warlpiri).

A Janganpa ancestor living elsewhere had met a woman who gave him her two daughters in marriage, but one day she decided to run away with them and settle in Mawurrji. The spurned husband followed their tracks to the camp and killed them with a stone axe. The victims’ bodies turned into rocks that can still be seen at Mawurrji.

This Aboriginal artwork captures the depth of ancestral storytelling, connecting land, myth, and identity. It’s an exceptional piece for any contemporary Aboriginal art collection or a statement work within a reflective, symbolic space.

Would you like to explore more by Ritasha Watson? Visit her artist page or discover similar Dreamtime narratives.

Interested in acquiring this painting? Contact Arts d’Australie • Stéphane Jacob to view it in Paris or receive personalised guidance for your collection.