John Mawurndjul
(Australia 1952– )
- Language group
- Kuninjku, Arnhem region
- Title
- Buluwana
- Year
- 2002
- Media
- Bark painting
- Medium
- 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)
-
Art + soul: a journey into the world of Aboriginal art (2010), Hetti Perkins (Australia) (Author), The Miegunyah Press (Australia), Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Look (Aug 2009), Jill Sykes (Australia) (Editor), 10pm [print management] (Australia), Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.
Art and Australia (Vol. 42, No. 1) (Sep 2004-Nov 2004), Claire Armstrong (Australia) (Editor), Art & Australia Pty Ltd (Australia), Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Art and Australia (Vol. 41, No. 4) (Jun 2004-Aug 2004), Claire Armstrong (Australia) (Editor), Art & Australia Pty Ltd (Australia), Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Crossing country: the alchemy of western Arnhem Land art (2004), Hetti Perkins (Australia), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Exhibition history (3)
-
The Dreamers (2009-10), (09 May 2009), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain Sydney New South Wales Australia 2000.
19th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, (10 Aug 2002–27 Oct 2002), at Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory (Australia), PO Box 4646 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia 0801.
Crossing country: the alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art, (24 Sep 2004–12 Dec 2004), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.