Born at Yarturlu Yarturlu, a Yam Dreaming site in the Tanami Desert, Lorna Fencer was the custodian of inherited land Yumurrpa situated near Chilla Well, south of the Granites Mine. Her father’s country was Wapurtali. She spent her early years living a traditional life, until in 1949 she, along with many of her Warlpiri countrymen, were forcibly transported to the government settlement of Lajamanu at Hooker Creek, situated in the country of the Gurindji people.
Lorna was the custodian of the sacred country of Yumurrpa and for the Yarla (bush potato), Luju (caterpillar), Bush Tomato, Onion and Plum Dreamings, many different seeds, and, importantly, spring water for her related skin groups.
Her paintings reflected the traditional stories of Ancestral women journeying through the bush, singing and dancing as they collected food. Sometimes her female ancestors would come upon a caterpillar, ‘that cheeky one’ that bites them while they are picking fruit, making them itchy. These caterpillars are luminous green in colour with bright eyes. In this painting the artist has depicted the home of the caterpillar in the Tanami Desert,NT. The Dreaming track,or songline runs through the artist’s country and she is one of the most important custodians of the story. The landscape is portrayed as abundant and full of flowers in bloom.
