Indigenous bark painting

Djarrwark ga Dhalwaŋu

 

Djarrwark ga Dhalwaŋu

A bark painting by Dr Gawirriṉ Gumana titled 'Djarrwark ga Dhalwaŋu' depicting Walwaltjpa (the creator sisters) in the form of a catfish, Balin the Burramundi (one of the Yirritja creator ancestors) and the lightning snake Mundukal (in dual form).

It shows the interconnection of the saltwater country of the Dhuwa and Yirritja, represented by the sacred clan designs (miny'tji) of the Dhalwaŋu and Djarrwark clans. Gawirriṉ Gumana inherited rights to the land through his naming, mapping and depiction of the coastline. His title on this region stems from his intricate knowledge of the sacred laws, songs, ancestral events and life cycle of the fresh and saltwater.

Dr Gawirriṉ Gumana was a Dhalwaŋu leader whose traditional homeland was Gangan. This painting was used in the federal court hearing relating to Native Title surrounding water of the Blue Mud Bay area. Following the Federal court procedures, in 2008 the High Court of Australia determined throught the handing down of the Blue Mud Bay decision, that Traditional owners had exclusing ownership over almost 90 per cent of the NT coastline.

  • Object number00033797
  • Date1998
  • Copyright© Gawirrin Gumana Reproduced courtesy of Gawirrin Gumana
  • CreditANMM Collection Purchased with the assistance of Stephen Grant of the GrantPirrie Gallery
  • Dimensions1545 × 835 mm, 6.9 kg
  • MediumNatural pigments on bark
  • Related placeBlue Mud Bay
  • ArtistGawirriṉ Gumana (1935-2016)