Milka (teredo worms in the mangroves)

The Yolngu scholar, Dr Gumbala explained in 2014 that Djäwa celebrates the ‘food that is gathered in mangroves, very champion and popular food … bush tucker’ in 'Milka (teredo worms in the mangroves)' c1950s. They were painted by Djäwa for his maternal mari, or grandmother, who belonged to the Wubulkarra clan nation. Derived from the pattern made by milka on a sacred log when they burrow into its timber, they are painted as a trail of diamonds, a unique, abstracted design that is mesmerising in its repetition. In the upper section of the work a bold yellow form dominates. This is reminiscent of the tail of the trevally fish and is representative of all mandjikay, all groups of people coming together.