PRICE
Price available upon request. Please contact Adrian at adrian@newsteadart.com for details.
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Mulka, Yirrkala, NT, Cat No. 3377L
Private Collection, NSW
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala Art Centre
ARTWORK STORY
The artist of this work is the son of the late Birr'kitji, leader of the Madarrpa clan. He was the most senior active artist of the entire Yirritja moiety of north east Arnhem Land when he painted this work, following the death of his brother Wakuthi in 2005.
Baraltja is plains country behind the shores of Blue Mud Bay. Water from the Gangan River flows into the Baraltja. This is represented by the long elliptical shapes that are 'calmed' as it surges inland with the tide to the floodplains, home of Mundukal, the Lightning Snake. From the onset of the wet season, the freshwaters run onto these same floodplains. The serpent tastes the new season's water with its forked tongue and stands on its tail to spit lightning into the skies, back towards where these sacred waters come from. This action is a metaphor for explaining connections to land and sea country with associate clan groups.
PRICE
Price available upon request. Please contact Adrian at adrian@newsteadart.com for details.
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Mulka, Yirrkala, NT, Cat No. 3377L
Private Collection, NSW
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala Art Centre
ARTWORK STORY
The artist of this work is the son of the late Birr'kitji, leader of the Madarrpa clan. He was the most senior active artist of the entire Yirritja moiety of north east Arnhem Land when he painted this work, following the death of his brother Wakuthi in 2005.
Baraltja is plains country behind the shores of Blue Mud Bay. Water from the Gangan River flows into the Baraltja. This is represented by the long elliptical shapes that are 'calmed' as it surges inland with the tide to the floodplains, home of Mundukal, the Lightning Snake. From the onset of the wet season, the freshwaters run onto these same floodplains. The serpent tastes the new season's water with its forked tongue and stands on its tail to spit lightning into the skies, back towards where these sacred waters come from. This action is a metaphor for explaining connections to land and sea country with associate clan groups.
