Artiste : Gunybi Ganambarr (1973)

Titre de la sculpture : Buyku

Format : 223 x 13cm

Pigments naturels sur tronc d'eucalyptus

Provenance et certificat : centre d'art aborigène de Yirrkala

Référence de l'œuvre: 2856-19

Explications pour cette œuvre :

This piece is painted in the miny’tji (sacred clan design) of the Dhalwaŋu clan which is one of the eight or so clans belonging to the Yirritja moiety (half) in North East Arnhem land. The sacred diamond design for the Dhalwaŋu clan reflects the patterning of the water streaming from the body of Ancestral Creator Being Barama as he emerged from these waters at Gäṉgaṉ, with weed hanging from his arms.

Today appropriately senior ritual participants wear sacred feathered strings from armbands, their chest painted with the Dhalwŋu design of freshwater. These totemic ancestors of the Dhalwaŋu clan are all associated with this site at Gäṉgaṉ from which all Yirritja creation began. They are seen as embodiments of the disciples or companions of Barama and himself. Black and white dots also representing the wake of the swimming tortoise…

One of the metaphorical overviews of this work is the union between the different subgroups of the Dhaḻwaŋu clan in the ancestral cycle of regular fishtrap ceremonies they join together in celebrating. These gatherings are ceremonial but also social and educational…

This work is reminiscent in structure to the piece that was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of art New York which also transformed the rectilinear design of the fishtrap into circular composition.

© Photo & text : Aboriginal signature with the courtesy of the artist, & Buku-Larrngay Mulka.

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