Djambawa Marawili: Source of Fire 2003 – 2005, Annandale Galleries, Sydney, 11 May – 18 June 2005


This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku–Larrŋgay Mulka Centre which states:
'Gany'tjurr is the reef heron and totemic to several of the Yirritja clan groups that inhabit the areas around Blue Mud Bay. Its actions during Ancestral times are sung by these Yirritja in shared manikay (sacred and ritual song) usually pertaining to the movement of the tides. Galuma's carving of Gany'tjurr has the heron placed on the sacred rock named Muwandi of the beach at Djarrakpi. As an original Ancestor for the Maŋgalili Muwandi himself stood and fished with spear. His fishing actions here became part of Maŋgalili foundation, Muwandi the rock a metaphor for groundedness. Gany'tjurr witnessed all events that had the sacred saltwaters of the sea country around Djarrakpi became Maŋgalili. The crosshatching or sacred clan design known as miny'tji is the underlying painting and represents this ownership. There are references here to the maternal cumulo-nimbus of the Wet season and female ancestral being Nyapiliŋu.'