"Turtle and Fish Dance", pigment on bark, apprx 26" x 8-1/2", mounted to backing board with frame. Tag on verso explains the painting "The artist has here shown his sacred well, into which his spirit returns at death. He belives that his spirit also came from the well at birth. Turtle and Fish are two of the dances performed in an initiation ceremony, and are a re-enactment of the dances which the Hawilak (sp) Sisters performed in mythological times in an effort to prevent Yurlungurr, the sacred Python, from swallowing them". Mawalan was a noted artist, statesman and ritual leader of the Dhuwa at the beach camp Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land in Australia.
"The more restricted geometric art of north-east Arnhem Land is characterised by a fixed repertoire of repeated diamond or rectilinear patterns which originate from ceremonial body painting designs. The ability to paint particular stories and use certain designs is determined by the artists? moiety - Yirritja or Dhuwa and then further determined by his clan and social status" visit The Art Gallery of South Australia at www.artgallery.sa.gov.au for more information about Aboriginal art.
500/1,000 Sold $603.75
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