Baraltja Monuk, 2008

natural earth pigments on stringy bark

175 x 65 cm

Price on application — enquire

Provenance: Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, NT, Cat No. 3377L Private Collection NSW Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre
Artwork story: The artist of this work is the son of the late Birr'kitji, leader of the Madarrpa clan. He was the most senior active artist of the entire Yirritja moiety of north east Arnhem Land when he painted this work, following the death of his brother Wakuthi in 2005. Baraltja is plains country behind the shores of Blue Mud Bay. Water from the Gangan River flows into the Baraltja. This is represented by the long elliptical shapes that are 'calmed' as it surges inland with the tide to the floodplains, home of Mundukal, the Lightning Snake. From the onset of the wet season, the freshwaters run onto these same floodplains. The serpent tastes the new season's water with its forked tongue and stands on its tail to spit lightning into the skies, back towards where these sacred waters come from. This action is a metaphor for explaining connections to land and sea country with associate clan groups.

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1935 – 2016

natural earth pigments on stringy bark

175 x 65 cm

Price on application — enquire

Provenance: Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, NT, Cat No. 3377L Private Collection NSW Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku-Larrngay Mulka Centre
Artwork story: The artist of this work is the son of the late Birr'kitji, leader of the Madarrpa clan. He was the most senior active artist of the entire Yirritja moiety of north east Arnhem Land when he painted this work, following the death of his brother Wakuthi in 2005. Baraltja is plains country behind the shores of Blue Mud Bay. Water from the Gangan River flows into the Baraltja. This is represented by the long elliptical shapes that are 'calmed' as it surges inland with the tide to the floodplains, home of Mundukal, the Lightning Snake. From the onset of the wet season, the freshwaters run onto these same floodplains. The serpent tastes the new season's water with its forked tongue and stands on its tail to spit lightning into the skies, back towards where these sacred waters come from. This action is a metaphor for explaining connections to land and sea country with associate clan groups.