Collection
Dr David Malangi
(Australia 1927–19 Jun 1999)
- Language group
- Manyarrngu, Arnhem region
- Title
- Dhäbila - fresh waterhole and banyan tree
- Place of origin
-
Central Arnhem Land →
Northern Territory →
Australia
- Year
- 1984
- Media category
- Bark painting
- Materials used
- natural pigments on bark
- Dimensions
-
102.9 x 55.0cm (irreg.)
- Credit
- Purchased 1984
- Accession number
- 130.1984
- Copyright
- © Dr David Malangi/Bula'bula Arts. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Dhabila, a tract of land on the mouth of the Glyde River, is integral to the Wagilag Sisters’ story. Because of it rich fish resource, it is vulnerable to outside exploitation. Malangi’s painting shows one of the waterholes (indicated by the flag like design) created by the sisters.
This waterhole is another part of the Djang’kawu Sisters' story. When they travelled here from Dhamala they made a waterhole with their digging sticks. The same two Djang’kawu women.
They were naming the places, the people and the languages until they reached this land. They created this waterhole from the point of their digging sticks. They named this place Gilimgarri. They went from here to the beach at Malwiningirr; they named that place. They left everything behind except the two sticks. They then travelled to the sunset.
[Art Centre documentation]
- Bibliography (1)
-
Susan Jenkins (Editor), No ordinary place: the art of David Malangi 2004, Canberra, 2004, 80 (colour illus.).
- Exhibition history (1)
-
No ordinary place: The art of David Malangi:
- National Gallery of Australia, Australia 31 Jul 2004–17 Nov 2004
- Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane 23 Apr 2005–17 Jul 2005
- Flinders University City Gallery, Adelaide 13 Aug 2005–02 Oct 2005
- Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Darwin 12 Nov 2005–08 Jan 2006
- Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia, Perth 23 Apr 2006–06 Jun 2006
