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Galabarrbarr

In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn.

The Warraburnburn and the closely related Galabarrbarr spirit (owned by the Balkarranga clan) are also manikaysong topics.  The spirits are related to each other as maternal grandparent and grandchild, just as the people of Warrawarra and Balkarranga are. The dancing of the two ghost spirit figures forms the finale performance for funerals, and is the final goodbye to a deceased family member.

In many ways the Warraburnburn and Galabarrbarr ghost spirits are like people. They emerge from the patches of jungle on Warrawarra and Balkarranga country in the late afternoon and go hunting in family groups of men, women and children. They stay in contact with each other by calling out as the men hunt for fish and the women walk with their dillybags looking for vegetable food. 

The ghost spirits are associated closely with white ochre and artists commonly paint the bodies of carved figures in white. Different types of ghost spirit wear different patterns. Warraburnburn is decorated with uniform white dots while others are painted white all over. Some ghost spirits are shown with a design painted on their chest infilled with rarrk ‘cross-hatching’, the same designs that are painted onto japi an-guyinda ‘male initiations’. 

They also have supernatural characteristics including superhuman size (jarra anbaykarda ‘super tall’). They know the country intimately – some are malevolent towards humans and will lead people astray, taking them to unfamiliar and dangerous places. These malevolent spirits are likened to an-muburda ‘sorcerers’ and can conduct dangerous rituals that cause harm to people. Others are benign and will lead humans back to familiar paths and their own camps.

 

Name: Derek Kuningbal Mandabirlpirl Carter


Language: Burarra (Martay)


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Derek is a senior Balkarranga clan member whose clan estate includes Anyjola country near the Ji-mardi outstation, a two hour drive from the remote Maningrida township.

In 2003 Derek performed as a dancer in the Darwin Festival performance of 'Crossings,' and later travelled to Paris and Mantes la Jolie as part of the 'In the heart of Arnhem Land' performances and exhibition.

Derek is a senior staff member at Maningrida Arts & Culture mentoring and developing First Nations and non-Indigenous staff. Derek has worked on projects including: the arts and culture precinct development with Architects Without Frontiers and HASSELL Architects, repatriation of sacred objects and remains with various museums and 'I am the old and the new' John Mawurndjul retrospective with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

In his role at Maningrida Arts & Culture he assists with the cultural documentation of works across a  diverse range of artists and art making ensuring First Nations law and culture is recorded and distributed with accuracy and respect. 

Derek is an established and widely respected artworker and since 2019 also an emerging artist, creating his first carved sculptural works following the tradition of his father Alec Wurmala in depicting  the Galabarrbarr deity. 

 

 

 

 

 


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