Organized by the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection

Mithinari Gurruwiwi | Naypinya

Mithinari Gurruwiwi

Naypinya, c.1966

Naypinya

Clan

Gälpu

"There was standing in the shade a very special shelter known as Baṉakaka. The great Serpent Wittitj and her children sang the traditional songs, dancing and singing in the doorway, celebrating their beloved homeland and their Country, fulfilling their duty.

Suddenly, a pigeon landed and called, “Buk, buk, buk, buk, buk.” The bird landed onto the Baṉakaka. The great Serpent Wititj was asleep, and the pigeon landed on top of the Serpent’s head and started talking. The pigeon was gently calling the west wind, saying, “Buk, buk, buk,” calling toward the west wind to fall on the Serpent.

A nice, cool wind blew from the bottom of the earth, from the edge of the horizon; the wind came dancing, coming in from the west. The west wind blew sweetly again, and it blew against the Nakutjpi wind, the Winirri wind, the Dhararrarra wind, and the Gurruwurru wind. Quietly signaling to each of them was the pigeon. Gently, the Bärra west wind came blowing, and the wind also went through to Natjitjpa and caressed Nhumunba, Gaḏiḏi and Barraratjpi. Gayarrpar, the west wind, then spread along to many Dhuwa moiety places all over the top end of Arnhem Land, every Dhuwa place that today shares the culture, the songs of all those places that are mentioned—as, I, Jason Guwaṉbal, am speaking of—mentioning the people of all clans and tribes from the Dhuwa moiety: Dhupuḻa, Dharmitjpi, Dhalarrambarr, Yilkuy-Ŋumi, Guruwana, Garrawanaŋu, Ḻiḻipiyana, Maḻimaḻi, Dururrŋa, Yapayapa, Manybunurru, Gätata.

And the wind also went to Garuma, it blew at that place the west wind, the Bärra wind, Gumumuk, Yarrwiyarrwi, over at Djipala and Djirparri, the wind spread to those places because of a little pigeon calling for it to come while sitting on top of the Serpent. A little pigeon called the west wind to blow."

– GUWAṈBAL GURRUWIWI

Additional Information

Decade

c.1966

Medium

Natural pigments on eucalyptus bark

Dimensions (IN)

47 3/4 x 19 7/8

Dimensions (CM)

121.29 x 50.48

Credit

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia.
Edward L. Ruhe Collection. Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997. 1993.0004.058

Narrative

Gälpu

The Gälpu clan belongs to the Dhuwa moiety. Major spiritual themes include Wititj and Bol’ŋu....

View All Artworks >

Location

1960s

The 1960s were a decade of tumult and triumph for Yolŋu art and artists. In...

Learn About This Decade >

About The Artist(s)

Clan

Gälpu

Artist Dates

c.1929-1976

Alternative Names

Midinari, Midhinarri, Mitinari

Mithinari Gurruwiwi

Mithinari Gurruwiwi was taught to paint by Mawalan Marika and became one of the most original and distinctive artists of the 1960s. He contributed to the Dhuwa side of the Yirrkala Church Panels.

Collections Represented

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Art Gallery of Western Australia

Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago

Grey Art Gallery, New York University

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia

Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia

National Gallery of Australia

National Gallery of Victoria

National Museum of Australia

Newcastle Art Gallery

Queensland Art Gallery

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery