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© D LAN GALLERIES

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled - Image 1
Untitled - Image 2
Untitled - Image 3
Artist Name
Artist Unknown
Artwork Name
Untitled, circa 1950
Medium
Natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
Dimensions
16.34 x 11.42 inches
42 × 29cm
Inventory ID
INV-UNKA-0175

Provenance

The Artist, Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory
Private Collection, Melbourne

Description

There are three totems within the official brand logo of the ALC. These represent the moieties and clans who live on the Groote Archipelago, and are the morning star, sawfish, and hammerhead shark. In the beginning the island was dark. Barnimbirra (Morning Star) brought daylight to the island and ever since then there has been day and night.

In creation times, Yumaduwaya (Stingray), Mangwarra (Hammer Head Shark) and Yugwurrirrindangwa (Sawfish), began their journey from the eastern coast of Arnhem Land. On their way to Groote Eylandt they stopped at Bickerton Island, transforming themselves from human beings to sea creatures. Then they journeyed on to Groote Eylandt.
On the way, they agreed to go on to the centre of the island and decided to enter from the north, but Sawfish said, “I’ll take a short cut”. After the Stingray had left him, Sawfish set off with a crowd of many different stingrays, all travelling together, following on after him.
Sawfish led the way, probably because he was the biggest.
Meanwhile Lirreba, the Tide, was growing big. Sawfish reached Groote Eylandt, came out of the sea, and started to cut his way through the land, using his teeth and nose as he went.
So, he made the Angurugu River, cutting out the land and throwing the earth aside, opening a way for him and travelled towards Centre Lake. As the water came in, the dirt was stirred up, and Lirreba, the Tide, grew bigger and bigger, following close behind Sawfish. Then came all the stingrays, still following behind Sawfish as he led the way. Then he went to the centre of the island where he created Central Hill (Yandarrnga).

The Anindilyakwa Land Council’s brand mark reflects the history, traditions and culture of the Anindilyakwa people, and unites the ALC organisation by creating a sense of purpose and place through the use of the vibrant colours of the Groote Archipelago land and sea (1).

1) Anindilyakwa Land Council website: https://anindilyakwa.com.au/about/brand-story/

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Price: $9,600 AUD

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D Lan Galleries acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, Bunurong and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nations in Naarm/Melbourne, the Birrabirragal and Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation in Gadigal/Sydney, and the Lenape people of Lenapehoking, the ancestral lands that now form New York City.

Melbourne/Naarm
40 Exhibition St, Melbourne,
VIC, 3000, Australia

T +61 3 9008 7212

Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm
Saturday 11am–4pm

Sydney/Gadigal
79-99 Queen St, Sydney,
NSW, 2025, Australia

T +61 2 9199 9646

Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm
Saturday 11am–4pm

New York/Lenapehoking
25 East 73rd St, New York,
10021, United States of America

T +1 917 405 7743

Tuesday by appointment
Wednesday-Saturday 11am–6pm

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