Details of Bamurrungu

Catalog Number : 26666
Size : 98cm x 47cm
Medium : natural earth pigment on bark
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Barrurrungu is a monolithic rock standing in the mouth of Trial Bay submerged within its waters. The waters of Gurkawuy River flow out through Trial Bay past these rocks conflicting and clashing in a turbulent unity with the incoming tidal waters from the deep ocean. 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 Marrakula.

In sacred song, Bamurrungu, a sacred and solitary rock in the mouth of Trial Bay is a statue of ancestral spirit. 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 the rock known as Bamurrungu moving as does the sea to song and rhythm of Yidaki and Bilma.

Bamurrungu is a spiritual focus for an alliance of clans who share identity connected with the felling of the Stringybark tree (the special ancestral name of which is Wanambi, the artist's surname) by ancestral-being Wuyal.

Wuyal the Ancestral Sugarbag Man while in Marrakulu clan country cut the sacred Wanambi (hollowed Stringybark tree) looking for native honey. One such tree was hollow, its falling path gouging the course for the Gurka'wuy River that has flowed ever since into Trial Bay. The hollow log's movements in and out with the tides and currents completing the kinship connections of the various waters are the subject of rituals and dance of this country. The Marrakulu sing these events (with other clans) during ceremony associated with the Wawalak myth. In other clan's lands these actions were repeated.

These groups dance songs of honey flowing like rivers of freshwater from fonts deep in the saltwater under the rock. The rivers belonging to these clans; the Marrakulu, Golumala, Marrangu and Wawilak flow spiritually towards this rock.

The water clashes, plays and mingles with that of the Djapu and Dhapungu clans. This Balamumu oceanic salt water rushing into the bay creates eddies, currents and patterns that delineate the relationship between the Djapu and Marrakulu clans. The relationship is referred to as Mari-Gutharra, the maternal grandmother clan and its granddaughter. These waters are in this relationship as well. This is known as the 'backbone'. One of the key relationships in a complex kinship system whose reciprocal duties are most powerful. The clans are both Dhuwa and share responsibilities for circumcising and burying each other's clan members. A matriarchal analysis of the world that governs the behaviour of both sexes equally.

This piece is employing the miny'tji or sacred clan design of this mixed water known as Gudultja. It also casts the design in turbulent confusion.