DJAMBUWUL (THE THUNDER MAN), 1965
182
MAWALAN MARIKA
(c.1908 – 1967)
DJAMBUWUL (THE THUNDER MAN), 1965
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus back
77.0 x 32.0 cm
inscribed verso: artist's name, date, RCV / RE95
Estimate:
$2,000 – 3,000
Provenance
James Davidson, Victoria
Private collection, Belgium
Catalogue text
This work is accompanied by an image of the original descriptive label from verso: ‘There are many stories about Bel’nu, alias Djambuwal. He is sometimes called the “Thunder Man”, but is really the waterspout. The waterspouts are visible along the coastline prior to the Wet Season. The aborigines say that he travels in the clouds and causes the rain to fall. Over his head he carries a spear as he dances in the clouds. The aborigines bend a spear in the same way when they dance with one to copy him. He belongs to the clans of the Dhuwa moiety.’