John Mawurndjul
(Australia 1952– )
- Language group
- Kuninjku, Arnhem region
- Title
- Buluwana
- Year
- 2002
- Media category
- Bark painting
- Materials used
- natural pigments on eucalyptus bark
- Dimensions
-
190.0 x 84.0cm (irreg.)
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased 2003
- Accession number
- 64.2003
- Copyright
- © John Mawurndjul. Licensed by Viscopy, Australia
- Location
- Yiribana Gallery
- Further information
Buluwana was a woman of Wumuddjan subsection, and one of the first people to inhabit the Kurulk clan region at Ngandarrayo. The Ngandarrayo site is on a large escarpment outlier. The camping places along this outlier are rich in rock art. During the time of great drought, Buluwana and her family were camped at Ngandarrayo. They were weak from thirst, and close to death, when the group was confronted by the malevolent gigantic form of the Death Adder snake. Buluwana tried to run away with the rest of her family, but was crushed and turned to stone. An arrangement of rocks still remains in the ground as Buluwana's present-day form. Only her head protrudes as a prismic standing stone - the rest ofher body is under the ground. Other human remains lying on rock ledges are said to be those of more early ancestors. The Ngandarrayo site is a place of great significance to people of the Kurulk and Kulmarru clans, and is classed as a highly sacred and dangerous place.
from Hetti Perkins et al., 'Crossing country: the alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art', Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2004
- Bibliography (5)
-
Hetti Perkins (Australia) (Author), Art + soul: a journey into the world of Aboriginal art, Carlton, 2010, 49 (colour illus.), 279.
'The Dreamers: Artists who revolutionised Aboriginal art' by Cara Pinchbeck, pg. 24-27., Look Aug 2009, Aug 2009, 27 (colour illus.).
'Abstract vision: John Mawurndjul' by Judith Ryan, pg. 64-71., Art and Australia (Vol. 42, No. 1) Sep 2004-Nov 2004, Sep 2004-Nov 2004, 69 (colour illus.).
'Aboriginal art: aquisitions by Australia's public museums and galleries' by Alison Harper, pg. 612-614., Art and Australia (Vol. 41, No. 4) Jun 2004-Aug 2004, Jun 2004-Aug 2004, 613.
Hetti Perkins (Australia), Crossing country: the alchemy of western Arnhem Land art, Sydney, 2004, 91 (colour illus.), 226.
- Exhibition history (3)
-
19th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 10 Aug 2002–27 Oct 2002.
Crossing country: the alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 24 Sep 2004–12 Dec 2004.
The Dreamers (2009-10), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 09 May 2009 -.
