Waditj and Bolong, c.1980

natural earth pigments on bark

73 x 30cm and 63 x 19.5 cm (framed)

$4,700

Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.

Provenance: Purchased from the artist c.1980, NT Private Collection WA Private Collection Qld Cooee Art Gallery Indigenous Fine Art Auction, October 2022, Lot 77
Artwork story: Paddy Fordham was the leader of the Rembarrnga people and an artist of great renown whose career was notable for a number of major episodic works. In these two paintings he depicts Bolong, the Rainbow Serpent and how Waditj - the Rock man turned into stone. The image of Bolong explains how indigenous society is divided into two separate moieties and a number of different skin groups. In the episodic bark that accompanies it, Waditj is shown living with his clan in the Wybalk country. He was a devil man - very cruel and greedy. One day he decided to fulfil his desire to create more havoc in the world. He told his people that he was leaving to see what he could take from the neighbouring tribes/ On his journey. Waditj came to a billabong and could hear songs from the Wagilag Sisters Dreaming being sung by people of the Ngalbon clan. As he got closer he began to feel heavy and found it hard to move. Black stone-like lumps began growing all over his body. Rembarrnga people say that Waditj was punished for his evil and was turned into a rock by the Bolong (Rainbow Serpent), the most powerful spirit of all.

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c.1932–1938 – 2006

natural earth pigments on bark

73 x 30cm and 63 x 19.5 cm (framed)

$4,700

Secure payment via Stripe. Prices in AUD.

Provenance: Purchased from the artist c.1980, NT Private Collection WA Private Collection Qld Cooee Art Gallery Indigenous Fine Art Auction, October 2022, Lot 77
Artwork story: Paddy Fordham was the leader of the Rembarrnga people and an artist of great renown whose career was notable for a number of major episodic works. In these two paintings he depicts Bolong, the Rainbow Serpent and how Waditj - the Rock man turned into stone. The image of Bolong explains how indigenous society is divided into two separate moieties and a number of different skin groups. In the episodic bark that accompanies it, Waditj is shown living with his clan in the Wybalk country. He was a devil man - very cruel and greedy. One day he decided to fulfil his desire to create more havoc in the world. He told his people that he was leaving to see what he could take from the neighbouring tribes/ On his journey. Waditj came to a billabong and could hear songs from the Wagilag Sisters Dreaming being sung by people of the Ngalbon clan. As he got closer he began to feel heavy and found it hard to move. Black stone-like lumps began growing all over his body. Rembarrnga people say that Waditj was punished for his evil and was turned into a rock by the Bolong (Rainbow Serpent), the most powerful spirit of all.