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Wak Wak

This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.

The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom of Kurrurldul Creek. The ‘Djimarr’ rock in the stream at Kurrurldul is said to move around and call out in a soft hooting tone at night. Both the stone itself and the area around it are considered sacred.

The imagery represents the rock mentioned above at the bottom of Kurrurldul creek, which is the final transmutation of the dreaming ancestor ‘Djimarr’. Finally, the pattern used here is also the crow design used in the sacred ‘Mardayin’ ceremony, which is a large regional patri-moiety ceremony now rarely conducted in central and eastern Arnhem Land.

Name: Annie Mulunwanga Wurrkidj


Language: Kuninjku


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Annie Mulunwanga, also know as Annie Wurrkidj is the younger sister of acclaimed Maningrida artists John Mawurndjul and Susan Marawarr.

Her work is recognisable, using a palette of white, black and yellow ochres when painting her rarrk.


© the artist / art centre