Description
Guku is a primary symbol of the artists identity, Gupapuyŋu Ḏaygurrgurr clan group of the Yirritja moiety, and refers to both the native honeybee and the flowing honey they produce. Galanyin refers to the diamond shaped honeycomb that holds the honey, the hive, and is used in many iconic Gupapuyŋu miny’tji (designs). The entrance to the hive can be seen at the top of the painting – this is where the bees come and go.
These miny’tji represent foundational legal and philosophical concepts of Gupapuyŋu thought, and are commonly painted on the bodies of men during ceremony such as Ŋärra (cleansing ceremony) and Dhapi(initiation ceremony). It is also sometimes painted on the bodies of deceased Gupapuyŋu. These designs are associated with Djiliwirri, a place south-east of Laŋarra.
The artist has rights and responsibilities to paint this design and tell this story in his role as an elder of the Gupapuyŋu clan. With all traditional Yolŋu stories, designs and manikay (song cycles), there are laws that prescribe who can paint, replicate and perform them. Only those with specific kinship ties to the story are allowed to paint this design. Yolŋu stories are also highly layered, and on each telling, different elements may be included or left out or emphasised, depending on the audience and context.
The artist has harvested, prepared and painted the bark himself while living at Laŋarra. In this work the artist has left the bark visible as negative space around the edge of the painting. He explains that this is how his ancestors used to paint and that he is making this style new again.
