- Title: Dhangi
- Artist: Marrnyula Mununggurr
- Region: Arnhem Land
- Art Centre: Buku Larrnggay Mulka
- Medium: Etching & Screenprint
- Collection: Djalkiri Folio
- Dimensions: 50 x 62 cm
- Edition Size: 40
- Price ($AUD): $ 770.00
Artwork Story
The cross hatching grid pattern is the sacred design for the freshwaters of the Djapu clan at their homeland Wandawuy now an outstation about 150 kilometres south of Yirrkala and inland from Blue Mud Bay.
This Djapu clan outstation (and spiritual residence for Ancestral Beings Måna the Shark and Bolnyu the Thunderman) is surrounded by permanent freshwater. Rains inspired by the actions of Bolnyu feed the rivers and fill the billabongs. Catfish and mussels, freshwater crayfish and others feed the Yolngu and wild life. The waters are the ancestral home for the shark Måna.
The grid refers to the landscape of Wandawuy- a network of billabongs surrounded by ridges and high banks. Its structure also having reference at one level to woven fish traps. Måna the Ancestral Shark in its epic travels comes through this way. These ancestors try to trap Måna in the freshwater by means of these traps in the waterways. They fail. The powers and physical strength of the Shark overcome the efforts of mere mortals. Måna’s ire and thrashing tail smash the trap and muddy the water.
They witness however the strength of Måna and sing his actions, the thrashing of his tail for one, the muddying or contamination of the water. The grid lines having reference to the trap, the cross hatched squares referring to differing states of the freshwater – the source of Djapu soul.
At ceremony appropriate participants for mortuary rites enter the shelter (woven together like the unsuccessful trap) where the deceased has been lying in state. Sacred spears tipped with stingray barbs, manifestations of Måna’s teeth, stand up alongside the shelter. The sacred song cycles of Måna in the water at Wandawuy are intoned with music from the Yidaki (didjeridu) and Bilma (clapsticks). At the prescribed time at the conclusion of ceremony the dancers crash through the deceased’s shelter imitating the actions of Måna at the trap. This action has reference to the release of the deceased’s soul, back to the sacred waters of Wandawuy to be reunited with its ancestors awaiting rebirth.
Copyright Buku Larrnggay Mulka 2010