DUNDIWUY WANAMBI - GOANNA ASSOCIATED WITH WUYAL MYTH
DUNDIWUY WANAMBI
GOANNA ASSOCIATED WITH WUYAL MYTH, 1986
82 x 28 cm
natural earth pigments on stringy bark
REGION
Arnhem Land, NT
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Arts, NT Cat No. 0721/B
Private Collection, NSW
Accompanied by an original Buku Larrngay Arts certificate tag
STORY
Dundiwuy was a Marrakula clan leader, sculptor and artist, becoming one of the most well known artists of North East Arnhem Land in the 1980s. He was also one of the Yirrikala artists who painted the famous 1968 bark petition, which featured the major ancestral spirit Woijal. This historic Australian document was the second traditional bark petition prepared by Indigenous Australians that was recognised by the Australian Parliament.
In this painting freshwater goanna are depicted with freshwater mussels in their mouth (Djarrwiti). The black object in the middle is a sacred ceremonial ground (Mulk). The Rock Wallaby at the top is associated with Wuyal, the Wild Honey Ancestral being who travelled in the same country as the Wagilag sisters. Wuyal is responsible for establishing a number of totemic sites and sacred emblems. Dots represent air bubbles coming out from the goanna.
ARTIST PROFILE
