Mithinarri Gurruwiwi, 1929-1976, UNTITLED (MYTHICAL SERPENTS AT GARIMALA SACRED WELL, CALEDON BAY)
Mithinarri Gurruwiwi, 1929-1976, UNTITLED (MYTHICAL SERPENTS AT GARIMALA SACRED WELL, CALEDON BAY)Estimate $7,000 – $10,000
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
bears artist's name, size and label with artist's name, date, tribe and a description of the story depicted on the reverse
146 BY 50CM
Provenance:
Painted at Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land
Private collection
Cf. For a painting depicting the same subject matter see Baywara snake in Ganymala, c.1975 in Linda Michael (ed.), Djon Mundine et al., They are Meditating: Bark Paintings from the MCA's Arnott's Collection, Sydney: Museum of Contemporary Art, 2008, p.115
The label on the reverse reads: The painting shows the mythical serpents who live in the Garimala sacred well at Caledon Bay. The snake emerges from the sacred well to help create rain at the start of the wet season. Men of the Galpu tribe paint this design prior to the wet season. It may only be painted by them. The story is part of the mystery of creation as interpreted by Aborigines of the area. The cross hatching and dots represent flowing water and bubble as the snake emerges'.