"The Djan’kawu named the places, they planted the trees, they made the well water, and then they went over to Ḻiḻirrtjawuy and made water there. And before going back up the hill, they stopped and collected some oysters. At the other side at Biḻbamwuy, they saw the mangrove goannas, and they heard maŋirrigirri (Pteropus alecto, black flying fox)—the dark black ones, which are Dhuwa— hanging on the djota tree."
– WANYUBI MARIKA
Additional Information
Decade
1962
Medium
Natural pigments on eucalyptus bark
Dimensions (IN)
47 ½ x 21
Dimensions (CM)
120.6 x 53.3
Credit
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. Edward L. Ruhe Collection. Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997. 1993.0004.045
Narrative
Rirratjiŋu
The Rirratjiŋu clan belongs to the Dhuwa moiety. The major spiritual themes relate to Yalaŋbara,...
Songline
Djan’kawu
When I was a child, my father would put me on his lap and sing...
Location
1960s
The 1960s were a decade of tumult and triumph for Yolŋu art and artists. In...
About The Artist(s)
Clan
Rirratjiŋu
Artist Dates
c.1927-1987
Alternative Names
Wandjug, Wandjuki, Wondjuk
Collections Represented
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of South Australia
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia
British Museum
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
National Gallery of Australia
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Saint Louis Art Museum