Wati Ngintaka (Perentie Lizard Man) – Reggie Uluru

“This is a straight story from the Tjukurpa (Creation Time), and nobody can change that story. This is about the Ngintaka. It’s an old story, taught by my father and my grandfather.”

In the Tjukurpa, the Creation Ancestors traveled across the unformed land, shaping its features through their everyday activities and adventures, leaving behind knowledge for humans to follow. In the northern ranges of South Australia, a long chain of landforms marks the passage of Wati Ngintaka (Perentie Lizard Man). He stole a grindstone and headed west, pursued by the rightful owners, hiding it magically in his tail whenever they caught up with him. They eventually killed him for his theft, and the story has been passed down for centuries through Tjukurpa, song, and ceremony.

Anangu are deeply committed to continuing the teaching and learning of Tjukurpa. Their art is vital work that sustains them economically, physically, and culturally, keeping their stories and traditions alive.

“I’m happy doing art because I’m explaining my story. People will see the expression of what I’m trying to tell in the painting—my history, my culture. I’m promoting my culture through art.” — Reggie Uluru

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