Kindy Kemarre Ross – Irrultja is My Country My country is called Irrultja, it’s past the hill and the dried-up creek from here, it’s a nice place, my dad’s country too, and my Mum’s country is here in Ampilatwatja. When I go to see my country, we always go to Read more…
Colleen Ngwarraye Morton – Women’s Ceremony and Bush Medicine The layers of Colleen’s paintings are as detailed and complex as the stories she paints. Colleen’s painting represents a ceremony that is performed by the women in the community. It involves dance, singing and painting the body in ochre, to celebrate Read more…
Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney – My Grandmothers Country I still hunt my Grand Mothers country for goanna, bush medicine and yams. I hunt all year round, hunting and walking through the country makes me happy. When I look at the distant hills I can feel my grandmother. Bush flowers are everywhere. Read more…
Johnny Guwana – Ḻatjin Dhäwu (Mangrove Worm Story) This painting represents ḷatjin (the mangrove worm). The songline begins at Nyalindi, Johnny’s mother country, and extends to the islands beyond Milingimbi. Along this journey lie the mangroves where ḷatjin are found. ḷatjin is Johnny’s dreaming, though for other Yolŋu people, it Read more…
Ganalbingu – Banda (Long Necked Turtle) The long necked turtle is a dreaming totem for the freshwater people, the Ganalbingu, whose country includes the World Heritage listed, Arafura Wetlands in Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory The Yolngu (people) of Arnhem Land originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular Read more…
Gumang (Magpie Geese) The Yolngu people of Arnhem Land originate from a spiritual source, fixed in a particular place in their land or the sea. These ‘Spiritual Reservoirs’ are often in the form of special waterholes made by Wangarr (Creative Beings) long ago close to the beginning of time. The 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 & Gurngurmirrngu). Warrnyu lived in these caves for many years and then one day Djanyarr Read more…
Bak ‘bididi (frogs) This painting depicts Bak’ bididi (frogs) sitting around a billabong. The Arafura wetlands across East Arnhem Land are filled with billabongs during the wet season, providing the perfect living conditions for bak’ bididi. Their calls you can hear far and wide during the day and night.
Elizabeth Ngwarraye Bonney – After the Bushfire This is the soakage (place to dig to find water) after the bushfire, made by a lightning strike. It burnt the grass down, then the rain came and the grass grows sweet and new. The kangaroos come out for the new grass, so Read more…
Kathleen Nanima Rambler – Mulangke Aherne (Beautiful Land) My country. When I go hunting out bush, as we drive along the road towards the hill you can see the beautiful land and the flowers blooming on the side of the road, and near the hills, even the beautiful gum trees. Read more…