Artiste : Noŋgirrŋa #2 Marawili

Titre de l'œuvre : Djapu design for Waṉḏawuy

Pigments naturels sur écorce

Format : 61 x 38 cm

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

Référence de la peinture : 2493-18

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

Explication de l’œuvre :

This bark paitning by Noŋgirrŋa #2 Marawili (1994) depicts throught the cross hatching grid pattern, the sacred design for the fresh waters 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 set a trap here to snare the Shark but to no avail.

The grid lines having reference to the trap, the cross hatched squares referring to differing states of the freshwater - the source of Djapu soul. The ar􀆟st is ‘playing’ with the sacred design to create a completely new pattern suggested by the swirling combinations of different elements of this water.

Private collections.

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