Title
Garrimala
2014
Artist
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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Yirrkala
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North-east Arnhem Land
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Northern Territory
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Australia
- Cultural origin
- Dhalwangu/Arnhem region
- Date
- 2014
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- natural pigments on board
- Dimensions
- 121.0 x 121.0 cm
- Credit
- Wendy Barron Bequest Fund 2015
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 249.2015
- Copyright
- © Malaluba Gumana, courtesy Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala.
- Artist information
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Malaluba Gumana
Works in the collection
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About
'Garrimala' 2014 refers to a billabong close to Malaluba Gumana’s homeland of Gängan. Dominating the work are realistic representations of dhatam, the waterlily plant. Delicate miny’tji (clan designs) are set behind these graceful forms to represent djari (rainbows) and the power of lightning infused within them.
Garrimala is particularly imporant to Gumana’s mother’s Galpu clan and is connected to Wititj (an olive python commonly referred to as the rainbow serpent). Djayku (the Javanese filesnake) is a companion and possible alternate incarnation of Wititj and lives amongst the dhatam, causing ripples or rainbows on the surface of the water. The sun shining on the scales of Wititj also give the appearance of rainbows. Wititj is associated with the beginning of the wet season when square shaped clouds begin to form and lightning strikes are common.
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Places
Where the work was made
Yirrkala
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Exhibition history
Shown in 1 exhibition
Sentient lands, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 04 Jun 2016–08 Oct 2017
Sentient lands, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 21 Jan 2017–08 Oct 2017
