Deutscher and Hackett

These works are accompanied by certificates of authenticity from Maningrida Arts and Culture, Northern Territory (catalogue numbers 6439-02 /6703-02 respectively). The certificate states in part, ‘Wangarra is a word in the Burarra language of central north Arnhem Land used to describe spiritual beings similar in some respects to the English concept of ghost or bogymen. Wangarra is a generic term which can include both spirit beings which continually inhabit certain sites or objects but can also mean the spirit of a recently deceased person. Although these two classes of spirits can be referred to as Wangarra they should not be confused as the same beings.’