Baru Dhawu (Crocodile Story) Baru (the crocodile man), was from the Gumatj clan. People usually call him Gurdu Gurdu or Baru which means crocodile. He lived his life at a place called Yirrkala. Living near him were other people, and when Baru didn’t have enough to eat he began to Read more…
Baru Dhawu (Crocodile Story) Baru (the crocodile man), was from the Gumatj clan. People usually call him Gurdu Gurdu or Baru which means crocodile. He lived his life at a place called Yirrkala. Living near him were other people, and when Baru didn’t have enough to eat he began to Read more…
JB Fisher – Mewal This painting is about the story of the rock Mewal, that is the embodiment of the spirit man Mokuy who created the honey men/sugar bag tribe. In the story, Mokuy runs away from from a burning grass fire and to escape he turns into the special Read more…
Lungurrma (North-east Wind) Lungurrma (North-east Wind) heralds the new season when seas are calm and new growth starts. The months for this type of wind are October to December. There are big clouds without thunder or rain. The triangular patterning represents monsoon clouds ‘standing up’ on the northern horizon. The 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…
Hunting Story Johnny’s painting depicts and old way of life- hunting next to the river. You can see Yolngu are spearing the fish, and have also places a fish trap in the water. He has also paintings two camps- with a shelter and a fire.
Raypiny Dhawu (Fresh Water Story) All Aboriginal people 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 spirits) that were created long ago close to the beginning of Read more…
Bak ‘bididi (frogs) This painting represents 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.
Banumbirr- Morning Star Ceremony by Burruna Banumbirr – Morning Star Ceremony (Dhuwa moiety) The Morning Star Ceremony is from the Dhuwa moiety. I have painted the ceremony here. It’s got leaves from the banyan tree (ficus virnens) that makes figs for people to eat – they are part of our Read more…
Medigi (Paperbark Mosquito House) This painting is inspired by a larger artwork by George Milpurrurru (dec.), which in turn was inspired by photographs taken by anthropologist, Donald Thompson. During the wet season, Aboriginal people lived in a circular paperbark house like a large igloo in which a fire was kept Read more…