Manmakkawarri Djang (CatfishDreaming), 396-15

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A$980

Artwork Details

Medium Acrylic, Paper (Requires Framing)
Dimensions 51cm (W) x 51cm (H) x 0.2cm (D)
Review Stars 21,229 Customer Reviews

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Artwork Description

There is a Catfish Dreaming here in Kunbarllanjnja (Gunbalanya). In the old days people used to go and hit the Catfish Dreaming rock with a leafy branch and ask the fish to go down to that big billabong, so people could get lots of catfish with their fish nets and fishing spears. The rock is still here, on the south side of town near the single mens’ houses. Young and old used to go down to that billabong. But people don’t do the increase ritual today. And today we don't swim or stand in the water because there's lots of crocodiles everywhere even out onthe floodplains or even over on the other side in the creeks and swamps. We have other Dreamings here, the Leech Dreaming and Turtle Dreaming at the bottom of Nimbabbirr hill and a Long Tom Dreaming at the bottom of Injalak hill. There’s also a Magpie Goose Dreaming on top of Arrkuluk hill. And the main one here is a Dog Dreaming, Adjumarllarl.

Nahni Manmakkawarri Djang kahdjangdi kondah kore Kunbarllanjnja (Gunbalanya). Bu korroko nawu dabborrabbolk birridjareni nawu djenjmanmakkawarri wanjh birrirey kore kahwardeyo makka wanjhmanmakkawarri djenj djang, kore Walem Arrkkuluk kanjdji koreyawurrinj single men house kahrurrkdi kaluk Koyek kumekke. Birrireynawu dabborrabbolk birriwodbuni kunworr dja birridjawani birriyimingarridjare djenj kakolung kore kubokimuk manlabbarl. Wanjhbirrikolungi walabi dorrengh dja djalakkiradj birridanjbuni birrimangi. Dja bolkkime larrk minj nangale kaburrbun kadjangwe nawumanmakkawarri djang. Dja bolkkime nawern nawu kinga wernmerrinj.

This painting needs to be framed or stretched. It’s also being sent direct from the artist at a remote art centre, Injalak Arts, in the Arnhemland, NT. 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.

Artist Bio

Jeremiah learnt to paint sitting beside his maternal Grandfather, Bob Bumarda and his contemporaries. Jeremiah says he was about ten when he started sitting with his grandfather and listening to his stories as he painted. Bob Bumarda also taught Jeremiah how to collect lorrkon and dollobo and prepare them the right way.

Jeremiah’s work is characterised by incredibly fine and precise rarrk. He paints stories from his country, Mankungdjang, his mothers county at Kudjekbinj and also stories passed to him by his grandfather. Jeremiah has been painting at Injalak since the art centre opened in 1989 and has been involved in many group exhibitions.