The Balamando People, 1968

natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

75 x 40 cm

$7,500

Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.

Provenance: Lawsons, October 1998, Lot 280 (labels attached) The Collection of Milton and Alma Roxanas Bonhams, May 2014, Lot 163 Private Collection Qld
Artwork story: This bark painting belongs to Roughsey's narrative series The coming of the Balamando People, which tells of the ancestors who first settled Lardil Country. At its centre are three immortals: the warrior Marnbil, his wife Gin Gin, and her uncle Dewalewul. Together they journeyed across the islands, leaving marks on the land that stand as permanent monuments. They created and named the animals, built the first stone-walled fish traps and dug wells for fresh water. On the final day of their travels the three went separate ways. Marnbil crossed to Bountiful Island to dig a well. Gin Gin remained near camp gathering tubers and roots. Dewalewul, who had gone to Turtle Island, came back early and found Gin Gin alone at the fire preparing food. He seduced her, but Marnbil returned and saw them together. Enraged, he crept up and drove his spear into Dewalewul, who spun as he was struck, throwing up a ring of raised earth. This became the first Bora, or ceremonial ground. Dewalewul then ascended into the sky and chose death, and in dying he condemned Marnbil, Gin Gin and all their descendants to become mortal. The remains of the three ancestors can still be seen today on a nearby reef, where a cluster of sharp stone spikes, their mineralised legs, rises from the surface. The site stands as a lasting reminder of Lardil law governing marriage and social relationships, and of how the physical and cultural landscape of the islands came into being.

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Dick Roughsey (Goobalatheldin)

1924 – 1985

Region: Cape York, Gulf & Far North Queensland
Community: Mornington Island (Gununa)
Language group: Lardil

The Balamando People, 1968

natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

75 x 40 cm

$7,500

Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.

Provenance: Lawsons, October 1998, Lot 280 (labels attached) The Collection of Milton and Alma Roxanas Bonhams, May 2014, Lot 163 Private Collection Qld
Artwork story: This bark painting belongs to Roughsey's narrative series The coming of the Balamando People, which tells of the ancestors who first settled Lardil Country. At its centre are three immortals: the warrior Marnbil, his wife Gin Gin, and her uncle Dewalewul. Together they journeyed across the islands, leaving marks on the land that stand as permanent monuments. They created and named the animals, built the first stone-walled fish traps and dug wells for fresh water. On the final day of their travels the three went separate ways. Marnbil crossed to Bountiful Island to dig a well. Gin Gin remained near camp gathering tubers and roots. Dewalewul, who had gone to Turtle Island, came back early and found Gin Gin alone at the fire preparing food. He seduced her, but Marnbil returned and saw them together. Enraged, he crept up and drove his spear into Dewalewul, who spun as he was struck, throwing up a ring of raised earth. This became the first Bora, or ceremonial ground. Dewalewul then ascended into the sky and chose death, and in dying he condemned Marnbil, Gin Gin and all their descendants to become mortal. The remains of the three ancestors can still be seen today on a nearby reef, where a cluster of sharp stone spikes, their mineralised legs, rises from the surface. The site stands as a lasting reminder of Lardil law governing marriage and social relationships, and of how the physical and cultural landscape of the islands came into being.