Dancing Mimi Man with Men's Clapsticks, c.1995

90 x 62.5 cm

Est. $800 – $1,200

Hammer $450

Provenance: Katherine Art Gallery, Cat No. P-1097 Private Collection, NSW
Artwork story: During his lifetime, Paddy Wainburranga Fordham was not only a respected artist but also a dancer, hunter, and storyteller. This work depicts a Mimi spirit - supernatural beings from Arnhem Land known for their extreme thinness and agility - caught mid-dance, holding ceremonial clapsticks. Paddy's figure is elongated and animated, rendered with vivid ochres against a dark background. The image pulses with movement, recalling the traditional dances that transmit law and Dreaming across generations. His art bridges myth and performance, capturing the presence of ancestors within lived ritual. Paddy's work is held in several public collections and remains a favourite among those who seek expressive figuration rooted in Arnhem Land law and oral tradition.

Click to enlarge

Sale 1 · Lot 92

c.1932–1938 – 2006

90 x 62.5 cm

Est. $800 – $1,200

Hammer $450

Provenance: Katherine Art Gallery, Cat No. P-1097 Private Collection, NSW
Artwork story: During his lifetime, Paddy Wainburranga Fordham was not only a respected artist but also a dancer, hunter, and storyteller. This work depicts a Mimi spirit - supernatural beings from Arnhem Land known for their extreme thinness and agility - caught mid-dance, holding ceremonial clapsticks. Paddy's figure is elongated and animated, rendered with vivid ochres against a dark background. The image pulses with movement, recalling the traditional dances that transmit law and Dreaming across generations. His art bridges myth and performance, capturing the presence of ancestors within lived ritual. Paddy's work is held in several public collections and remains a favourite among those who seek expressive figuration rooted in Arnhem Land law and oral tradition.