DAWALINJARA - NGARAPIA
DAWALINJARA
NGARAPIA, 1980
74 x 36 cm
Natural Earth Pigments on Bark
REGION
Arnhem Land, NT
PROVENANCE
Private Collection
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
Ngarapia was a giant man of mythological times. His country was on Cape Stewart, between the Blyth River and Millingimbi. Ngarapia was greatly feared as he raided other tribes killing their warriors and stealing their women. Eventually the tribes gathered together and decided to put an end to the troublemaker. They caught him on the long beach at Ingangarndua and flung their spears. He fell, pierced through the chest by many spears. he crawled out through the waves and was transformed into a black rock which at low tide resembles a man crouching. The incoming tide rushes through the rock, reminding the Burada people of the wounds of Ngarapia. He is often shown with crabs on a rock over his head. When Burada people return from fishing by boat and pass Ngarapia they throw some of their catch onto the rock to prevent Ngarapia from causing rough weather.
ARTIST PROFILE
