Matthew Djipurrtjun
Warrabunbun Dhäwu Print B

This print depicts Warrabunbun, the powerful forest spirit belonging to the artist’s märi (mother’s mother) Warrawarra clan. Sometimes also called Wuypa, the spirit inhabits land between Garmu and Gamurra Gu-yurra just south of Milingimbi on the mainland and is said to be over 10 feet tall.

Usually the Warrabunbun figure is shown accompanied by his favourite food, the jamadarr yam, and fuller expressions of the special white rärrk cross-hatching – both described further below.

Warrabunbun is not the spirit of a person, but a maḻagatj, a supernatural being that looks after Warrawarra country and kin. While considered a protective and benevolent spirit that watches over you, it is acknowledged that Warrabunbun can be märr maḏakaḏitj – a bit dangerous or aggressive – if startled or offended. He carries with him a spear and spear-thrower for defence, and is sometimes depicted with a broken leg from when he was once caught in a skirmish defending his land from invaders. Warrabunbun is also said to be djambatji, a prodigious hunter, that can easily spear emu, wallaby and goanna.

The artist  explains,

Yow, dhuwal Warrabunbun mokuy. Manymak, yurr ŋayi dhuwal nhawi, marrŋgitj ŋayi, balanya. Marrŋgitj — birrimbirr balanya. Ga wäŋaŋurnydja ŋayi dhuwal nhanŋu ŋunha Garmuŋur. Ŋunhi nhanŋu wäŋa, Garmu — Murlmurlma ŋunha.  

Yes, this is Warrabunbun spirit. He is like a medicine-man or sorcerer – a spirit-man – something like that. His home is over at Garmu (on the mainland near Milingimbi), at a place called Murlmurlma.

Ga dhawaṯthun ŋayi dhuwal, breakfast, munhakumirr. Marrtjin maṉḏa — ŋayi ga ŋerrk — gapuw dhiṯthunaraw. Ga manymak, ga beŋuryi maṉḏa roŋiyiny ga balanya-bili wäŋalil, ŋunhi wanhaŋur ŋayi dhawaṯthun wäŋaŋur. Ga dhärri ŋayi baladhi.

He comes out at breakfast, early in the morning just before the sun comes up. Warrabunbun and Ŋyerrk the white cockatoo, they leave to collect water. Yes, and then they return to the same place, the place from where he came out. And there he stands.

Ga beŋuryidhiny, dhuḏi-milmitjpan — munhay’nha waluy — ga dhawaṯthuna bili ŋayi, ga gapuw dhiṯthunaraw — ŋayiny maṉḏa Mun-ngokngoknha, ŋurukidhi gapuw, wäŋaŋur Murlmurlma, yäkuŋur ŋunhi maŋutji.

And from there, in the evening, when night falls, he leaves again and goes to get water — he and Mun-ngokngok, the owl spirit, at Murlmurlma, the name for that waterhole.

The stories and songs of Warrabunbun are rich source of strength for Warrawarra clan and their kin. The various episodes, themes and connections present in the larger story of Warrabunbun means these artworks often depict him in different contexts and may focus on particular elements. Some of these include various foods or objects, often described as his ‘tools’, including the aforementioned spear and spear-thrower, a digging stick to harvest the jamandarr yams and a special Warrawarra dillybag called burlupurr that he uses to carry his catch or harvest. Warrabunbun is also associated with larger Yirritja moiety song cycles that connect him with ratjuk (barramundi), ginyginy (catfish), gurtha (fire) and bäru (crocodile). The waters of Murlmurlma are represented by the white rärrk cross-hatching enclosed in a circle.

Print

Etching

50 x 33 cm