VALMAY NAMPITJINPA New Paintings From Kings Canyon 29 June – 30 July 2006 In association with Papunya Tula Artists   Valmay Nampitjinpa was born (circa 1945) at Karrkalli , south of the Areyonga community. She grew up in the country surrounding Lupul in the Northern Territory. Valmay lived a nomadic life before settling at Papunya following the death of her mother.    As a young woman, Valmay moved to Haast Bluff where she married her husband and had three children. Valmay has also lived at Kings Canyon and Docker River with her family.   Valmay’s father was the brother of Tatali Nangala, a very successful artist who painted for Papunya Tula Artists from 1996 until her death in 1999.    Now a widow, Valmay resides at Kintore with her niece Eileen Napaltjarri. She began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 2005. This is Valmay Nampitjinpa’s first solo exhibition.   The paintings in this exhibition depict designs associated with the travels of the Kungka Kutjarra (Two Women) to the site of Yulpunyanyi, west of Kings Canyon. In mythological times these Two Women, represented by the “U” shapes, travelled from the south to Yulpunyanyi to gather ngari (honey ants). From here, they continued their travels north. The roundels in some of the paintings, depict the holes the women made as they dug for the ngari.