JOHN MAWURNDJUL - NARMARDEN (FEMALE LIGHTING SPIRIT)

 JOHN MAWURNDJUL
NARMARDEN (FEMALE LIGHTING SPIRIT),  1993
156 x 65 cm
natural earth pigments and synthetic binder on eucalyptus bark
 
PROVENANCE
Maningrida, NT
Painted in 1993 at Maningrida Arts & Culture,Northern Territory (label attached verso, stock no.JM1583)Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne (label attached verso)Private Collection, Melbourne, since 2007Exhibited:John Mawurndjul: New Work, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, 20 November - 22 December 2007, cat.18 
 
STORY
The present work, Narmarden (Female Lightning Spirit), is an exceptional example of the artistā€™s bark paintings from the 1990s. The figure within the composition represents the female lightning spirit, Namarrkon ngal-daluk. The fine, iridescent rarrk across the figureā€™s body captures the almost electric, radiating power of this being.