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Garawan Wanambi: Marraŋu 2011


Details

  • No.:RKS0057
  • Medium:Natural Ochres on Larrakitj
  • Size: 206 cm
  • Year:2011
  • Region:Arnhem Land (East)
  • Art Centre:Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka
  • Status:

This painted surface depicts country close to Raymangirr, on the coast of Arnhem Bay. It is a sacred and restricted area where freshwater is known to spring to the surface of the beach at the low tide region.

Garawan, a Marrakulu clansman, says that “Wayuŋga brought me up so I’m also adopted to the Marraŋu clan”.

The Marrakulu and Marraŋu are closely related clans through madayin (sacred clan mythologies and law). Both tell of the felling of monumental trees by the honey ancestor Wuyal, the scouring out of a river course by the fallen log on its way to sea, deluge of honey, floods and other apocalyptic events.

For the Marraŋu at a site close to coastal Raymangirr is the mouth of this river and places of non secular danger where freshwater fonts spring up into this tidal region. It has been said that if you go too close to this area you’ll become sick such is the malevolent power of this site. Mäpan – Boils.

A site of the mosquito ancestors – they’ll waya mari (fight with spears into) the boil releasing the bloody muck. Then there is peace and calm after the storm, sun rays play on the surface of the water, another manifestation depicted within this work.

The mosquito is a symbol of aggression and the ancestral mosquitoes fight with spears as on an avenging expedition. The mosquito ancestors are associated with places of spiritual danger that cause boils. Fighting is a release of tension just as the bursting of a boil.

The design represents this place in the river mouth near Raymangirr, where freshwater springs bubble up beneath the saltwater. The designs represent the different character of the waters moving from anger and turbulence to the calm of resolution, bathed in the warmth of the sun’s rays. Manifest and central to the painting is the fallen trunk, this sacred Larrakitj a manifestation of the same.

Larrakitj | Lorrkon | Tutini are sculptures made from tree trunks which adapt to room temperature and humidity. Tiny hair cracks are inherent in the nature of the material.
Special provisions apply to this artwork. Reproductions of the artwork and its story in part or in whole in any form require the permission of the artist. We are only too happy to be of assistance in this matter.