Wayawu, 2019, Paul Wutjinama Maymuru
Acrylic paint on stringybark, 212 x 700 x 500 cm
Provenance: Salon de Refusés, Darwin.
Exhibited: Salon de Refusés, Darwin 2020.
The Wayawu River is the freshwater source of Mangalili sounds, on Maymuru’s lands, and is also viewed as an analogy for the Milky Way. The Milky Way is held to be the reservoir of Mangalili souls from which children spring to select their parents.
The Lorrkkon or bone pole coffin ceremony was the final ceremony in a sequence of mortuary rituals celebrated by the people of Arnhem Land. This ceremony involves the placing of the deceased’s bones into a hollow log, which is decorated with painted clan designs and ceremonially placed into the ground where it remained until it slowly decay over many years. The log is made from a termite hollowed stringybark tree (Eucalyptus tetradonta) and is decorated with totemic emblems.
Artist Statement
“I have been making art for the last five years. My father Baluka is a well known artist and he has taught me my sacred clan designs. I also follow my grandfather, Narratjin, who was one of the first artists to be recognised by the Australian people. He was also there for the opening of the museum in Canberra.
I live in my clan lands at Djarrakpi and my wifes land at Balma. I know all about Yolŋu ceremony and will become a leader of the Maŋgalili.” (1)