Summary
The painting depicts Murayana, the Hunter, and here is shown with his barbed spears and spearthrowers. He is the ancestor for the Daygurrgurr Gupapuyngu clan of eastern Arnhem Land. The distinctive diamond pattern on Murayana represents the hive of the native bee, and is the madayin minytji or sacred design for Daygurrgurr clan.
The late Dr Joseph Gumbula, a Yolngu elder and academic, saw this painting by his father for the first time in October 2003. He selected this work in discussion with the senior curator to be included in the book "Treasures of Museums Victoria" that was published the following year. Dr Gumbula explained that in painting these works, Yolngu "paint our country, ancestors... The paintings were taken into the garma [public]... [and] painted... for selling."
Physical Description
A single sheet of bark (Stringybark, Eucalytpus tetrodonta) painted with natural pigments. The imagery is of the Ancestral Hunter with his spears and spearthrower, and his body is painted with sacred designs.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Painting, bark
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Maker
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Cultural Groups
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Locality
Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
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Date Produced
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Collector
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Date Collected
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Dimensions
1000 mm (Length), 550 mm (Width), 110 mm (Height)
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Keywords
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References
[Book] Museum Victoria. 2004. Treasures of the Museum. Victoria, Australia. 206.
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Collection Names
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Type of item
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Discipline
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Category
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Collecting Areas
Australian Indigenous - Northern Australia and Queensland and Torres Strait Islands