Artiste : Buwathay Munyarryun (1962)

Titre de la sculpture : Waŋgurri

Format : 250 x 16 cm

Pigments naturels sur tronc d'eucalyptus

Provenance et certificat : centre d'art aborigène de Yirrkala

Référence de l'œuvre: 361-19

Explications pour cette œuvre :

The clan groups of the north east Arnhem Land region are structured around a complex system of kinship law. As with Yolŋu personal relationships, ie with mother, with father, uncle, grandfather or wife or child, a particular Yolŋu clan will have these same relationships with other clans. This creates a network that links the ancestral events of creation which is said to have its foundations laid down by the Waŋarr (creator beings) of this time.

This work belongs to the Wangurri clan. This is recognised by the fact that miny’tji (sacred clan design- the detailed cross hatching ‘behind’ the figurative imagery) belonging to the Wangurri covers the piece. This piece shows disguised representations of a mangrove log washed in from saltwater Maŋgalili country into the Wangurri clan freshwater area of Gularri, the Cato River.

It contained Milka or mangrove worms which died once it washed into the fresh water. This pattern was etched in the log and is here repeated as the Wangurri sacred clan design which appears throughout. The songs of the Wangurri invest this log with sacred power allowing it to make paths that other beings and landscape features could follow.

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

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