Yuendumu Doors In 1982 five
Warlpiri elders started painting in a bright "
fauve art" style on the 30 doors of the Yuendumu
primary school, in a project which became known as the Yuendumu Doors. Their paintings illustrated 36 ancient designs known as
kuruwarri (also spelt
kurawarri The five men who painted the doors were: Paddy Jupurrurla Nelson, Roy Jupurrurla Curtis, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, Paddy Japaljarri Sims, and Larry Jungarrayi Spencer. The painting of the doors started the whole Warlpiri art movement, and in addition became a powerful symbol of elders caring for children, and helping them in "
two-way education". In the mid-1990s, the doors were removed when the school was upgraded in the mid-1990s, the doors were transferred to the
South Australian Museum, where they are held today (2021). In 2021, the South Australian Museum, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the
National Museum of Australia mounted an exhibition consisting of posters of the doors, to be displayed in Australian embassies around the world, starting with
Chengdu in China. Other notable artists who have painted with Warlukurlangu include Kumanjayi Nelson Napaljarri,
Norah Nelson Napaljarri,
Sheila Brown Napaljarri, and
Judy Watson Napangardi.
Contemporary Indigenous Australian artist Kumanjayi Napaljarri Kennedy was a senior woman at Yuendumu, a member of the community council, and was made a Member of the
Order of Australia in 1994, for services to the Yuendumu community. Artist
Maggie Napaljarri Ross has received the Order of Australia for her work in establishing the Yuendumu Night Patrol. The art centre produces over 10,000 paintings each year, and sells the same number. In 2022, more than worth of art by Warlukurlangu Artists sold at the three-day
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. ==Media==