Artiste : Noŋgirrŋa Marawili

Titre de l'œuvre : Djapu

Pigments naturels sur écorce

Format : 203 x 91 cm

Provenance et certificat original : centre d'art aborigène de Yirrkala

Référence de la peinture : 4231J

© Photo : Aboriginal signature with the courtesy of the artist & Buku-Larrngay Mulka.

Explication de l’œuvre :

This Bark painting by Noŋgirrŋa Marawili (1938), depicts The cross hatching grid pattern is the sacred design for the freshwaters of the Djapu clan at their homeland Wandawuy now an outstation about 150 kilometres south of Yirrkala and inland from Blue Mud Bay. This Djapu clan outstation (and spiritual residence for Ancestral Beings Mäna the Shark and Bol’ŋu the Thunderman) is surrounded by permanent freshwater. Rains inspired by the actions of Bol’ŋu feed the rivers and fill the billabongs. Catfish and mussels, freshwater crayfish and others feed the Yolŋu and wild life.

The grid lines having reference to the trap, the cross hatched squares referring to differing states of the freshwater - the source of Djapu soul. At ceremony appropriate participants for mortuary rites enter the shelter (woven together like the unsuccessful trap) where the deceased has been lying in state. Sacred spears tipped with stingray barbs, ,manifestations of Mäna’s teeth, stand up alongside the shelter.

Collections : Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney NSW. Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia, Perth WA. Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. USA Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin NT. Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney NSW. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ACT. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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