Don has painted a namarddakka (nail fish) and a burarr (water goanna)which has been cut up ready to cook on the fire. Both are importantmanme (food) for kunwinjku people in west Arnhem Land.
Namarddakka have strong spine-like protrusions resembling nails that have given it its name. It can be found in the billabongs and streams around Gunbalanya. The burarr also inhabits the wetland areas of western Arnhem Land. Burarr's streamline body and paddle shaped tail differentiates it from land goannas. They are frequently caught and eaten for their tasty white flesh, and their eggs are also sought after as an excellent food source - these are found in their dens which can be a hollow log or a dug out burrow.
Don uses the traditional single line rarrk (hatching) of Kunwinjkuartists. This style has been used for thousands of years as part of thecontinuous tradition of kunwinjku rock art, one of the oldest continuousart traditions in the world.
Burarr nakka yiman kalawan nungan kadjalyo kore kukkukaboyo.Burarr karrinan kakukdayo kore kunwarde kukorlh koremanwodj kahwodjyo kundulk.Bu kannan wanjh kadjuhme kore kuronjkayo munguyh kaluk yerre karrolhme.Burarr namak mayh bungarringun yiman kalawan karohrok.Kunkanj dja kunbalem bungarringun ngadberre mayh.
This painting needs to be framed. It’s also being sent direct from the artist at a remote art centre, Injalak Arts, in west Arnhem Land, in the NT desert. Please note there is only one mail plane a week that takes the artwork to Gunbalanya. The tracking information is then received a week later when the mail plane returns so often the paintings are delivered before we receive the tracking information. Please expect a slightly longer wait for this very special artwork to arrive.