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attrib. Mangangina Wurramara

(Australia 1919–1984)

Language group
Warnindilyakwa, Arnhem region
Title
Dumabiyandangwa - Kestrel
Other titles:
Sea eagle Kestrel
Dumabiyandangwa (kestrel)
Place of origin
Groote Eylandt → Northern Territory → Australia
Year
1948
Media category
Bark painting
Materials used
natural pigments on bark
Dimensions

40.7 x 68.6cm

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Gift of the Commonwealth Government 1956
Accession number
9262
Location
Not on display
Further information

The sea-eagle, iniwakada (Haliastur Indus), starting from Wunda-wunda, near Bennett Bay, was flying towards Groote Eylandt when, at Anabura-madja just off the south-east corner of Bickerton Island, he saw and caught a garfish, maracuru. The sea-eagle carried the garfish first to Bartalumba Point, then southward along the western coast of Groote Eylandt to Neira-madja, on the lower south-east corner. After the sea-eagle has eaten the fish he collected many sticks, and built himself a nest on a cliff. Today that nest is a pillar of rock many feet in height. The eagle went to sleep at Imuakada, then woke up and, when soaring in the sky, saw the garfish, maracuru, caught and ate it. Although the white feathers on the neck and rump of the sea-eagle are indicated, the wings of this large eagle are given little emphasis. The markings on the body indicate the feathers.

[Charles P. Mountford, 'Records of the American-Australian scientific expedition to Arnhem Land vol.1: Art, myth and symbolism', pg. 69]

Bibliography (4)

Jonathan Jones (Australia, b.1978) (Author), Mountford Gifts: Works from the American-Australian scientific expedition to Arnhem Land 1948, Sydney, 2009, 3.

Margo Neale (Australia) (Author), Yiribana: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection, Sydney, 1994, 22, 23 (colour illus.), 139.

National Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Purchases and Acquisitions for 1956 National Art Gallery of N.S.W., Sydney, 1956, 21. cat.no. 43; titled 'Sea Eagle'

Charles P Mountford (Australia) (Editor), Records of the American-Australian scientific expedition to Arnhem Land 1: Art, myth and symbolism, Melbourne, 1956, 69 (illus.). plate no. 21B

Exhibition history (3)

Gamarada, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 15 Nov 1996–16 Feb 1997.

ochre: bark paintings from the Collection (2000-01), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 02 Nov 2000–06 May 2001.

Mountford Gifts: Works from the American Australian scientific expedition to Arnhem Land 1948, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 21 Mar 2009–03 Jun 2009.