Artist: Bronwyn Kelly | Title: Mimih Spirit | Year: 2021 | Medium: Ochre on Bark | Dimensions: 80 x 18 cm
PROVENANCE
Maningrida Arts and Culture Cat No.926-21
ARTWORK STORY
The people of Western Arnhem Land believe that Mimih spirits live in a social organization similar to Aboriginal people and that Mimih society existed before humans. Mimih are credited with instructing the first people with knowledge relating to survival in the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau. Mimih are said to have taught the first humans how to hunt and butcher game and also how to dance, sing and paint.
Mimih are terribly thin, having necks so slender that a stiff breeze would be fatal. For this reason they emerge only on windless days and nights to hunt. As soon as a breeze develops, the Mimih are said to run back to their rocky caverns and disappear inside.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Oenpelli, NT
LANGUAGE
Kunwinjku
BIOGRAPHY
Bronwyn Kelly, daughter of Shirley Nganjmirra and David Kelly, is a talented Kunwinjku artist from Oenpelli in West Arnhem Land. She creates bark paintings, Lorrkon (hollow log coffins), and woven artworks at Injalak Arts.
PROVENANCE
Maningrida Arts and Culture Cat No.926-21
ARTWORK STORY
The people of Western Arnhem Land believe that Mimih spirits live in a social organization similar to Aboriginal people and that Mimih society existed before humans. Mimih are credited with instructing the first people with knowledge relating to survival in the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau. Mimih are said to have taught the first humans how to hunt and butcher game and also how to dance, sing and paint.
Mimih are terribly thin, having necks so slender that a stiff breeze would be fatal. For this reason they emerge only on windless days and nights to hunt. As soon as a breeze develops, the Mimih are said to run back to their rocky caverns and disappear inside.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Oenpelli, NT
LANGUAGE
Kunwinjku
BIOGRAPHY
Bronwyn Kelly, daughter of Shirley Nganjmirra and David Kelly, is a talented Kunwinjku artist from Oenpelli in West Arnhem Land. She creates bark paintings, Lorrkon (hollow log coffins), and woven artworks at Injalak Arts.