FROGS, 1994
JOHN MAWURNDJUL
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
190.0 x 67.5 cm (irregular)
bears inscription verso: artist's name and Maningrida Arts and Culture cat. 037/94
Maningrida Arts and Culture, Northern Territory
Private collection, Melbourne
John Mawurndjul: I am the Old and the New, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 6 July - 23 September 2018; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 26 October 2018 - 28 January 2019
Altman, J., et al., John Mawurndjul: I am the Old and the New, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 2018, pp. 97 (illus.), 377
‘The studies of flora and fauna in the paintings of John Mawurndjul are encyclopedic and reflect an intimacy with country and a prowess as hunter and conservationist. His later depictions of animals incorporate an added layer of complexity combining their position in cultural/spiritual and natural worlds. Djaddi (frogs) and yibba (an ornate burrowing frog) are recorded as being pets of the Rainbow Serpent and are associated with stories of a secret nature.’1
‘Kudjidmi is the main ornate burrowing frog sacred site. It belongs to Gurrgoni language people, who sing bunggurl songs about that frog. The frog speaks Gurrgoni, ‘gah gah’. The ornate burrowing frog is a Gurrgoni speaker. The ornate burrowing frog put that sacred place at that location. Kudjidmi is the main site and the one at Nangak is on the hill, near the Djinkarr Ranger Station. The two sites point at each other. Both sites are yirridjdja moiety. Those sites are for those people from Bulkay on the Tomkinson flood plain – people like Jack Adjdjarral of the Boburerri clan on top and people from the Darnkolo clan below.’2
1. Perkins H., ‘Mardayin Maestro’ in John Mawurndjul, I am the Old and the New, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2018, p. 24.
2. The artist quoted in John Mawurndjul, ibid., p. 89 (translation by Murray Garde)