Details of Bamurrunju

Catalog Number : 26664
Size : 102cm x 42cm
Medium : natural earth pigment on bark
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Trial Bay is located between Caledon Bay to the north and above the larger Blue Mud Bay on the Western side of the Gulf of Carpenteria. Deepinside Trial Bay, the Marakulu clan claim ownership to land and sea through the actions and events of Ancestor Beings as they travelled into this country inbuing both land and sea. The mark of ownership is sung, danced and painted in Marrakulu ritual through the stringybark woodlands and stony country, through the freshwaters running into the Gurka-wuy River into Trial Bay. This country is asscoaited with the Wawaluk Sisters, sacred goannas, Wuyal the Sugarbag Man and the original inhabitants of Gurka-wuy since these times, the Djuwany people.

This painting refers to Bamurrungu, and sacred and solitary rock in Trial Bay. It is a white dome in the Bay - a round lump if granite, it's top coloured by roosting birds. In this painting, the rock is hidden by the molmulpa or white sea foam associated with turbulent waters. The artists points out that the convergence of currents can be seen in this painting. The fish swimming up to Bamurrungu are referred to as Marparrarr, or milk fish, somewhat like a large mullet. According to the artist, these were once people of the stony country behind where the Marrakulu have now settled. They turned to Marparrarr on reaching the shore and following the feathered string to Bamurrungu. Yolngu of this area speak of a hole submerged under the rock, from where bubbles are seen rising to the surface, sometimes bursting forth with a rush. The bubbles are seen as a life force and a direct Ancestral connection for the Marrakulu. The Marparrarr have knowledge of this special phenomenon as do the law men. When the Marrakulu perform ritual dance for the events depicted in this painting, participants move towards a held spear representing the steadfastness of the rock, splitting the dancers who then surround Bamurrungu, moving as does the sea to song and rhythm of Yidaki and Bilma.