MATTHEW DJIPURRTJUN
Wurrdjara(Gamalaŋga Livistona Palm)
$920.00
The work shows the Gamalaŋga clan Wurrdjara, or Livistona Palm (Sand Palm). While this design is considered ‘outside’, or unrestricted, it is associated with a much larger ‘inside’, or secret story that connects Gamalaŋga clan with the Birritjama Ḻiyagalawumirr clan. This painting represents Garuma, a place on the mainland near Galkubirri (Banyan Island) that the Gamalaŋga clan share with neighbouring Birritjama. From here the Wurrdjara song travels to Gaṯaṯa, and then on to Mirranmina, a very powerful and sacred place famed in Yolŋu lore.
The central yellow triangular figure is the crown of the palm in bloom, with the cone-like wurrki’ (flowers) protruding with white ‘petals’. The small black and yellow figures are the poisionous dhawurrmonuk, or dhawuḏumunun, caterpillars that feed on the nectar of the flowers. The rarrk cross-hatching shows the edible core of Wurrdjara while the background fan-like shapes are the palm leaves of Wurrdjara.
According to the artists mother, a senior Gamalaŋga woman, this design has been ‘lying asleep’ for many years since being last painted by her late husband, the artist’s father. Watching her son grow as a ceremonial leader and artist, she recognised that the time had come for her son to ‘wake this painting up’. When she brought the first of her son’s Wurrdjara works in she said, ‘This is my story, but his hand. I asked him to paint this for me because he is Djuŋgaya (caretaker). We are very proud of him.’
60 x 60cm
