This painting depicts naku (canoes) that were made traditionally from the bark of a particular tree and used for hunting. In this painting, they are looking for gumang (magpie geese) and their eggs as well as crocodiles.
Name: Dorothy Djampalil
Language: Djambarrpuyngu
Community: Ramingining
Biography:
Dorothy Djampalil is an emerging artist, born in Millingimbi into a family of strong and prolific painters. Dorothy was raised and taught to paint by her mum, D Djukulul, a respected artist and one of the first recognised female painters in Ramingining. Her stepfather, renowned Yolŋu painter Djardi Ashley, is also a strong influence in her artistic style.
Dorothy likes to paint her own totem, Banumbirr (Morning Star). However, prefers to depict the totem of her mother and grandfather. These include Lungurrmar (North-East Wind), Baru (crocodile), Lidji Lidji (finch), Ganalbungi Banda (long-neck turtle) from the freshwater story, Gumang Yalman (Magpie Goose), Damilipa (blue tongue lizard), and Dawurrmunuk (itchy caterpillar).
“I want the people to know I paint my mother’s story on the canvas.”
While Dorothy doesn’t have any children of her own, she paints every day with her sisters, Evonne, Joy Borruwa and Joy Burruna, as well as her nieces and nephews. Maintaining the strong family history of painting their cultural story.
Dhawurr/batjbarra fish trap Fish traps are placed into the river to face the oncoming fish. The woven tunnel traps the fish and prevents their escape. The traps are tapered so when they are submerged in the water, Read more…
Bathi (Pandanus Basket) Bathi are woven from the split leaves of the Screw Palm (Pandanus Spiralis). Coil weaving was introduced to Arnhem Land in the 1930s. It was adapted from techniques used by Indigenous women Read more…
Warrnyu Dhawu (Flying Fox Story) Back in the Creation time, Warrnyu (Flying Foxes) once lived, like men, in the cave at the place called Kurrki Warrnyu Yirri Djaringal (they also lived in caves called Wadatilmurr Read more…