Turtle, File Snakes, and Fish, c.1980

91.5 x 37 cm

Est. $1,500 – $2,500

Hammer $600

Provenance: Purchased Arnhem Land, NT Fireworks Gallery, Qld Private Collection, Vic
Artwork story: This bark painting offers a finely composed study of wetland fauna - turtle, file snake, and fish - each linked to specific clans, hunting practices, and ceremonial knowledge in the Arafura Swamplands. The file snake, known for its smooth skin and aquatic grace, is associated with freshwater systems and seasonal renewal. The turtle signifies both sustenance and ritual power, while fish traverse the symbolic threshold between water and spirit. The composition balances naturalism and stylisation, likely through x-ray infill and rarrk, rendering the animals as spiritually charged forms. For collectors, the work stands as a fragment of a larger cosmological map - one that continues to shape identity, movement, and meaning in Arnhem Land.

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Sale 1 · Lot 94

91.5 x 37 cm

Est. $1,500 – $2,500

Hammer $600

Provenance: Purchased Arnhem Land, NT Fireworks Gallery, Qld Private Collection, Vic
Artwork story: This bark painting offers a finely composed study of wetland fauna - turtle, file snake, and fish - each linked to specific clans, hunting practices, and ceremonial knowledge in the Arafura Swamplands. The file snake, known for its smooth skin and aquatic grace, is associated with freshwater systems and seasonal renewal. The turtle signifies both sustenance and ritual power, while fish traverse the symbolic threshold between water and spirit. The composition balances naturalism and stylisation, likely through x-ray infill and rarrk, rendering the animals as spiritually charged forms. For collectors, the work stands as a fragment of a larger cosmological map - one that continues to shape identity, movement, and meaning in Arnhem Land.