Sacred Gumatj Chest Design, February 2002

synthetic polymer paint on linen

102 x 152 cm

$3,500

Provenance: Elcho Island Art & Craft, Galiwinku, Elcho Island NT Cat No. 14/6550/DAT Bandigan Art, Woollahra NSW Cat No. 14/6550/DAT Private Collection, NSW Accompanied by certificates of authenticity from Elcho Island Art & Craft and Bandigan Art and 3x photographs of the artist in attendance at the exhibition preview with the painting.
Exhibited: "Gika" Tongue of the Fire The Art of Peter Datjin Burarrwanga, Bandigan Art, Woollahra NSW, 5 - 29 May 2005.
Artwork story: "This is a Sacred Chest Design that we paint on the body for ceremony. Gumatj boys or Mata Mata Warramiri boys (Warramiri clan shares land on the mainland with the Gumatj clan) can wear this one for circumcision or for age grading ceremony. The black (diamonds) is the burnt wood from the fire and the black coals. The red ones is the hot, burning fire. This one (the red triangle section on the top) is the Barramundi tail, he is waiting for small mullet to eat. In the middle is the Ganiny (sacred Gumatj ceremonial item) we dance with that one for special ceremonies." Any further story is held secret and sacred to the artist, and cannot be told.

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b. 1953

synthetic polymer paint on linen

102 x 152 cm

$3,500

Provenance: Elcho Island Art & Craft, Galiwinku, Elcho Island NT Cat No. 14/6550/DAT Bandigan Art, Woollahra NSW Cat No. 14/6550/DAT Private Collection, NSW Accompanied by certificates of authenticity from Elcho Island Art & Craft and Bandigan Art and 3x photographs of the artist in attendance at the exhibition preview with the painting.
Exhibited: "Gika" Tongue of the Fire The Art of Peter Datjin Burarrwanga, Bandigan Art, Woollahra NSW, 5 - 29 May 2005.
Artwork story: "This is a Sacred Chest Design that we paint on the body for ceremony. Gumatj boys or Mata Mata Warramiri boys (Warramiri clan shares land on the mainland with the Gumatj clan) can wear this one for circumcision or for age grading ceremony. The black (diamonds) is the burnt wood from the fire and the black coals. The red ones is the hot, burning fire. This one (the red triangle section on the top) is the Barramundi tail, he is waiting for small mullet to eat. In the middle is the Ganiny (sacred Gumatj ceremonial item) we dance with that one for special ceremonies." Any further story is held secret and sacred to the artist, and cannot be told.