Artiste : Djawuluku Munuŋgurr

Titre de l'œuvre : Djapu Design

Pigments naturels sur écorce

Format : 77 x 48 cm

Provenance et certificat original : centre d'art aborigène de Yirrkala

Référence de la peinture : 1607-18

© Photo : Aboriginal signature with the courtesy of the artist & Buku-Larrngay Mulka.

Explication de l’œuvre :

This bark painting by Djawuluku Munuŋgurr (1964) evokes with the cross hatching grid pattern, the sacred design for the freshwaters of the Djapu clan at their homeland Wandawuy now an outstation about 150 kilometres south of Yirrkala and inland from Blue Mud Bay. This Djapu clan outstation (and spiritual residence for Ancestral Beings Mäna the Shark and Bol’ŋu the Thunderman) is surrounded by permanent freshwater.

Rains inspired by the actions of Bol’ŋu feed the rivers and fill the billabongs. Catfish and mussels, freshwater crayfish and others feed the Yolŋu and wild life. The waters are home for the shark Mäna. The grid refers to the landscape of Wandawuy - a network of billabongs surrounded by ridges and high banks. Its structure also

having reference at one level to woven fish traps. Ancestral Hunters who set a trap here are called Bärngbarng and Monu'a who came to cut the trees named Gu'uwu, Gathurrmakarr, Nyenyi, Rulwirrika and Gananyarra - all Dhuwa trees. They used straight young trees. And cut them with their axes called Gayma'arri, Bitjutju. Areas of the river are staked by the Yolŋu and branches interwoven through them.

Collections : Private collections.

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