Artist: Narrawu Wanambi | Title: Marrnu at Djarrakpi | Year: 1990 | Medium: natural earth pigments on bark | Dimensions: 44 x 107 cm
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala NT Cat No. 1612j
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku Larrnggay Mulka.
EXHIBITED
Big Country: Australian Aboriginal Art Coast to Coast, Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle USA, June-Sep 2012
ARTWORK STORY
This work depicts Marrnu the Ancestral Possum who was with the Ancestral Guwark co-founder of Djarrakpi for the Mangalili people. A sacred tree called the Marawili marks this spot and can be used in many differing manifestations to show mangalili iconography. Here the Marawili takes on the guise of the hollow log which was used by the Mangalili (and other Yolngu clans) as a coffin for the final rites of mortuary. The crosshatching represents the running sand of the Djarrakpi beachscape.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Yirrkala NE Arnhem Land, NT
LANGUAGE
Marrakulu
BIOGRAPHY
Narrawu is the daughter of Naminapu, an award-winning artist. Naminapu, in turn, is the daughter of Nanyin, who is the older brother of Narritjin. Narrawu has been taught the art of painting by her mother, Naminapu, who lives in Yirrkala.
PROVENANCE
Buku Larrnggay Mulka, Yirrkala NT Cat No. 1612j
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku Larrnggay Mulka.
EXHIBITED
Big Country: Australian Aboriginal Art Coast to Coast, Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle USA, June-Sep 2012
ARTWORK STORY
This work depicts Marrnu the Ancestral Possum who was with the Ancestral Guwark co-founder of Djarrakpi for the Mangalili people. A sacred tree called the Marawili marks this spot and can be used in many differing manifestations to show mangalili iconography. Here the Marawili takes on the guise of the hollow log which was used by the Mangalili (and other Yolngu clans) as a coffin for the final rites of mortuary. The crosshatching represents the running sand of the Djarrakpi beachscape.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Yirrkala NE Arnhem Land, NT
LANGUAGE
Marrakulu
BIOGRAPHY
Narrawu is the daughter of Naminapu, an award-winning artist. Naminapu, in turn, is the daughter of Nanyin, who is the older brother of Narritjin. Narrawu has been taught the art of painting by her mother, Naminapu, who lives in Yirrkala.