This painting depicts the winding roots of a yam called yala, which is closely associated with Water Dreaming at Kalipinypa. The rains brought by the two old ancestral men created ideal conditions for yala to grow. This demonstrates how important the Kalipinypa narrative is: every natural feature within an extended radius of the site are associated with this Tjukurrpa. Storm clouds transformed into sandhills, storm birds became trees, and lightning resulted in rock formations. Johnny Warangkula is better known for his elaborate dotting, seen in the works on the opposite wall, but this early painting shows his rhythmic ability and his emphasis on the storm’s regeneration of plant life.

Anmatyerr, Luritja, Warlpiri, and Pintupi people, nyinapayi ngaangka. They sat down here for a long time. They all went to the canteen, ngurrpa tjuta. They had not experienced settlement life before. Maaniku ngurrpa. They knew nothing of money. After that, it was one-pound and five-pound notes—old money. I used to paayilpayi (assertively tell someone to leave) all the school teacher mob. I would tell them, “Those old men are working over there, painting, you want to look at them, but you shouldn’t because they are working.” I kept my eyes open!