Details of Kunmadj

Catalog Number : 23247
Size : 131cm x 42cm
Medium : Bark Painting with ochre
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This is an image of kun-madj, a large woven collecting basket. These large bags are often made from the vine Malaisia scandens, a strong, pliable plant which grows along the floor and into the canopy of monsoon vine thickets. The bags are used to collect any kind of large numbers of heavy foods such as fish caught in conical fish traps or large collections of yams. As well as being of practical use, dilly bags are also of religious significance to Arnhem Land people. Dilly bags are said to be totemic objects and associated with particular sites in the landscape.
The in-fill of the figure is classic Arnhem Land cross hatching called rarrk. This form of in-fill is particular to the ritual art of the Mardayin ceremony, which is a major regional patri-moiety ceremony of Arnhem Land. The rarrk in this painting is an oblique reference to this ceremony. The rarrk also creates a shimmering effect which imbues the image with religious power.