Gananhdharr (white heron) This sculpture represents the Gananhdharr song line. Gananhdharr (white heron) can be seen at low tide searching for goya (fish) particularly garkuyi (mullet). They hunt alongside their ŋäṉḏi (mother), Ngulungulu (grey heron), at low tide, across the flood plains and amongst larrtha (mangroves). “When you look in Read more…
Yawkyawk (young women spirit) (on a rock) – Babbarra Texta “This mermaid lives in a special freshwater billabong in the manberrk (savanna woodland). She is sitting on a rock on the edge of the kunronj (billabong). When we see the kunronj shining, and the sun goes down we call this kahbohmimihmeh.
Diane Kemarre Ross – My Country This is my country, it’s the country around Irrultja. This is where we like to go after big rain. After big rain there, we can go swimming. There is always good hunting on my country. It is good for me to paint my country Read more…
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…