MULKUN WIRRPANDA - LUTUMBA
MULKUN WIRRPANDA
LUTUMBA, 2005
172 x 56 cm
Natural Earth Pigments on Bark
REGION
Yirrkala NE Arnhem Land, NT
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Arts, NT
Private Collection NSW
Cooee Art Leven, NSW
STORY
Mulkun is a senior woman of the Dhudi-Djapu clan that resides at her freshwater homeland Dhuruputipi.
She has however painted her clans saltwater country out past the mouth of the Baykuldji River in Blue Mud Bay. This is identified by the painting of the sacred clan design belonging to this Dhuwa estate called Lutumba.
The sacred nature of this place refers in part to the regeneration of Dhuwa souls via the medium of sacred waters that spring from this area. This has been identified by the central roundrels with yathiny (ellyfish/turtle food) being a metaphor for these ensuing generations.
Djapu ancestral hunters are depicted in the sacred saltwater of Gapuwarriku - an area of deep water in the country referred to as Lutumba. This is marked on English maps as Fowlers Bay within the larger Blue Mud Bay.
The interlocking strips of miny'ti (sacred clan design) represent this water that is calm and clear - a turtle surfacing is easy to spot and chase. This state which has philosophic and metaphoric meanings Is known as Warrparra or Milarr.
Milika the moon fish totem for the Dhuwa clans that are associated with this site swim to the surface in this area. The turtle feeds on the floating (flower-like) anenome Yathiny.
This hunt is reenacted as a part of the larger mortuary rituals for the Djapu (and associates) deceased that has its origins at Lutumba.
Ancestral hunters Balurruwuy and Yangamawuy saw turtle from the island Burralku. This place with a more specific name of Marrtjirra as it is referred to in manikay (sacred song) relates to the turtle hunt depicted in this painting. From the Island the hunters prepared the harpoon and three splice fibre rope;
The rope is sung Bungapumir with the enchants Mamarika for the art and ceremony of twisting of the rope, Yaltarr, Wurruku Mamikiya.
They saw the turtle Murrurrwa out past the batpa or coastal reefs of Burralku, out in the deeper seas of
"he thought the place was batpa but it was deep water but easily to see. When you get close to the turtle you can follow it under the water swimming to get away" the large green turtle was killed.
"half way back he (they) saw Dhalwalarrmirr, Bundamirr. This is where the gapu (water) came up as rough sea Wulamba, Manaymanay, Djunu - Balamumu, Djapu Gapu"
Dhalwalarmirr, Bandamirr is the sacred rope with hook they saw stretched out on the surface of the roughening water and wirridku or driftwood is attached to such paraphernalia when used for hunting as a float marker. It connects the deep waters of Lutumba back to the Wukiti mortuary ground on the mainland.
These rough waters, dangerous and unforgiving drove the hunters back into the mainland, the massive tide covering the upper most land side aspects of Lutumba - the Wukiti or sacred burial ground for the Djapu, Dhudi Djapu, Marrakulu, Marranu and Dhapuynu
"Today when we finish bungul (ceremonial dance) for somebody passed away we do the turtle hunt for the bukulup (water cleansing ceremony)."
People are placed in the prepared ground representing the Wukiti to have the giant ancestral tide wash/sung over them before the surge washes back to the sea - a spiritual connection and a cleansing.
The shell of the turtle is representative of the bone containing the secret knowledge and the sacred rock Nitjurra, submerged in this area. Nitjurra a foundation stone for the Balamumu group of people remains immovable within the powerful sacred waters of Balamumu at Lutumba.
ARTIST PROFILE
