American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land Search this
Length - Object:
100.3 cm
Width - Object:
44.4 cm
Object Type:
Bark Painting
Place:
Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Accession Date:
2 May 1949
Notes:
FROM CARD: "SMALL WHALE SURROUNDED BY THE SEA REPRESENTED BY EXPANDED BANDS OF CROSS-HATCHED LINES. REFER: MOUNTFORD: ARNHEM LAND, V. I, PL. 121(D) & PP. 376, 378 SIMILAR BUT NOT OUR SPECIMEN. SACRED JIRITJA (NANGJIN INFORMANT) DREAMING PLACE IS MILUNGWERA AT BLUE MUD BAY. THE TOP CROSS-HATCHED BAND IS GIRITUWI, THE NORTHERN RIVER FLOWING INTO BLUE MUD BAY. IT IS THE WET SEASON AND RAINING, AND THE WATER FLOWS DOWN TO THE WESTERN RIVER AND TO THE SOUTHERN ONE WHEN IT OVERFLOWS. THE LOZENGES ARE WATERFALLS AND RAPIDS. THE FISH-LIKE FIGURE IS A DREAMING ROCK CALLED TEKORORA IN A BILLABONG: ITS BOTTOM IS IN THE MUD AND ITS TOP IS IN THE CLOUDS. THERE IS A WHIRLPOOL ABOVE AND BELOW IT AND THE WATER IS FLOWING AROUND IT." SEE CARD FOR DRAWINGS.
