Artist: Gurrundul Marawili | Title: Baru at Baykuldji | Year: 1999 | Medium: natural earth pigments on bark | Dimensions: 174 x 43 cm
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Mulka, Yirrkala NT Cat No.1835C
Accompanied by an original certificate of authenticity from Buku Larrngay Mulka.
ARTWORK STORY
The Madarrpa clan, away from their major residence of Baniyala, have estate country further south on the Koolatong River at Baykuldji. The site is sacred to Baru the ancestral crocodile and is a nesting place thus a special place of fertility. Where there is life there is also death so in regard to this place, ritual performed for Madarrpa mortuary will have a song and dance having reference to this place. A pair of Baru are depicted in the freshwaters of the river that has been imbued by their presence and represents the power of fire within. The design belongs to the top Madarrpa. The other panel depicts a more specific site in the area where a sacred log has fallen across the river, a manifestation of Dhakandjali the hollow log or coffin. Here the miny'tji or design differs. Water runs across the log and Gany'tjurr the heron looks on.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Yirrkala NE Arnhem Land, NT
LANGUAGE
Madarrpa
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrngay Mulka, Yirrkala NT Cat No.1835C
Accompanied by an original certificate of authenticity from Buku Larrngay Mulka.
ARTWORK STORY
The Madarrpa clan, away from their major residence of Baniyala, have estate country further south on the Koolatong River at Baykuldji. The site is sacred to Baru the ancestral crocodile and is a nesting place thus a special place of fertility. Where there is life there is also death so in regard to this place, ritual performed for Madarrpa mortuary will have a song and dance having reference to this place. A pair of Baru are depicted in the freshwaters of the river that has been imbued by their presence and represents the power of fire within. The design belongs to the top Madarrpa. The other panel depicts a more specific site in the area where a sacred log has fallen across the river, a manifestation of Dhakandjali the hollow log or coffin. Here the miny'tji or design differs. Water runs across the log and Gany'tjurr the heron looks on.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Yirrkala NE Arnhem Land, NT
LANGUAGE
Madarrpa