Guku Ŋäṉitj Djiliwirriw (Honey of Djiliwirri), 2023

$980.00

83cm x 47cm
2023
Ochre on Bark
Catalog No: 252-23

This painting represents the foundational Gupapuyŋu clan design that tells the story of Guku, the Gupapuyŋu Honeybee ancestor.

Guku ŋayi waṉḏin, ŋunhi ŋayi waṉḏin wuymirrilil. Wuymirri ŋayi mam’thurr. Waŋgany guku ŋayi waṉḏin. Waŋganydja ŋayi wuymirrilil waṉḏin. Mam’thurr ŋayi. Yanapi ŋayi wäŋa nhäŋal, ŋanydja ŋunhi ŋayi wuymirri nhäŋal, ŋayi mam’thurr. Waŋganydja baladhi guku. Bala wuymirriy bilyurrnha ga ŋanyany guykthurr buku ŋanya guykthurr wuymirriy gukun.

Honey bee went travelling, and went and found a whale. He stamped his imprint onto the whale. One honey bee went [that way]. One went and found a whale. It stamped [its diamond pattern onto the whale]. He thought it was land, but it was a whale that he saw, that he stamped [his design] onto. That’s where one honey bee went. Then the whale turned and spurted a spout of spray onto the face of that honey bee.

This work has been strapped (aluminium flat bar on the back of the bark to hold the bark in place) so that it is archivally sound and ready to hang.

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