CARISSA GURWALWAL - MIMIH SPIRIT
CARISSA GURWALWAL
MIMIH SPIRIT, 2022
87 x 4 cm
Synthetic Polymer Paint on Carved Wood
REGION
Gunbalanya,Oenpelli Nt
PROVENANCE
Injalak Arts and Crafts, NT
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
According to the Kunwinjku people of West Arnhem Land, Mimih spirits were the original spirit beings, who taught Aboriginal people many of the skills they needed to survive in the bush. They also taught aspects of ceremony. Mimih spirits are believed to inhabit the rocky escarpments around Gunbalanya but because they are extremely timid, they are rarely seen by humans. They are frequently depicted in the rock art of Arnhem Land as small, dynamic figures, often shown with a range of hunting tools such as spears, spear throwers, dilly bags and fire sticks.
(Text: Injalak Arts)
ARTIST PROFILE
