East of East Kimberley: Warmun to Asia

A Collection of Fine Warmun Aboriginal Art - 2008

East of East Kimberley: Warmun to Asia

A Collection of Fine Warmun Aboriginal Art - 2008

Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by MABEL JULI of Warmun Artists. The title is Gelingkenayin. [WAC 081/08] (Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canvas) Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by MABEL JULI of Warmun Artists. The title is Gelingkenayin. [WAC 081/08] (Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canvas)
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MABEL JULI

Gelingkenayin
WAC 081/08
Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canvas
 Gelingkenayin | WAC 081/08
Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canva…
 80 x 100cm | 31.5 x 39.37in
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Warlu Country is Juli’s father’s country. This area is now known as Springvale Station and is located South West of Warmun Community.

This country is known for its hilly terrain and the abundance of waterholes and natural springs. The image Juli has painted represents one of the key Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) stories for this region. This story was told to Juli when she was a young girl. It explains a particular rock formation found in one valley in Warlu. In the Ngarrangkarni, Gelingkenayin the rainbow was a man. He was travelling through Warlu country hunting for kangaroo with his marranyji (dingo). His dog was good and loyal.

Each time he would send out his dog the dog would track and kill the jiyirriny (kangaroo) and come back to his master, and lead him to the kangaroo carcass. Gelingkenayin came to a deep valley, with steep hills on each side. He sent out Marranyji and the dog ran up one side of the hill and was gone a long while. Gelingkenayin called out to his dog, but there was no answer.

He walked up one side of the hill and called and called, but no response. He walked down the hill back into the valley and called for his marranyji again, still nothing. He walked to the top of the opposite hill in the valley, still nothing. Dejected and upset Gelingkenayin walked back down to the valley and sat quietly. It started to get dark. As the daylight slipped from the valley, Gelingkenayin heard a deep growl from behind him. Gelingkenayin turned his head to where the noise came from and as he turned his shape became stone.

You can still see Gelingkenayin in that valley today. The rocky hill in the middle of the Warlu Valley is in the shape of Gelingkenayin’s profile.

Warlu Country is Juli’s father’s country. This area is now known as Springvale Station and is located South West of Warmun Community. This country is known for its hilly terrain and the abundance of waterholes and natural springs. The image Juli has painted represents one of the key Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) stories for this region. This story was told to Juli when she was a young girl. It explains a particular rock formation found in one valley in Warlu. In the Ngarrangkarni, Gelingkenayin...