MARDAYIN DESIGN, 2004

The Laverty Collection - Part III
Sydney
5 April 2017
4

JOHN MAWURNDJUL

born 1952
MARDAYIN DESIGN, 2004

natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

174.0 x 58.0 cm

bears inscription on label verso: artist's name, title, language group, size, medium and Maningrida Arts and Culture cat. 537-04

Estimate: 
$25,000 – 35,000
Sold for $36,600 (inc. BP) in Auction 48 - 5 April 2017, Sydney
Provenance

Painted at Milmilngkan, Northern Territory
Maningrida Arts and Culture, Maningrida, Northern Territory in April 2004
The Collection of Colin and Elizabeth Laverty, Sydney, acquired from the above in April 2004

Exhibited

The Plot Thickens: Narratives in Australian Art, Heide Museum of Modern Art Travelling Exhibition, Victoria, 17 July – 26 September 2004; Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Victoria, 4 March – 25 April 2005

Catalogue text

This painting is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Maningrida Arts and Culture that states: ‘This work by the artist concerns a major patrimoiety ceremony of a secret and sacred nature called ‘Mardayin’. Much of the meaning of the iconography in the painting is not in the domain of public knowledge and so it cannot be explained in detail here. The painting refers to a site, Kakodbebuldi, which is an outstation in Dangkorlo clan estate in the Mann River region. Kakoddebuldi is a Mardayin ceremony performance site and is located on a large billabong covered in waterlilies. This place is about 50km south of Maningrida in Central North Arnhem Land.’