![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by LENA NYADBI of Warmun Artists. The title is Dayiwul and Jimbirla Ngarrangkarni. [WAC049/09] (Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canvas)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/d/dayiwul-and-jimbirla-ngarrangkarni-649.jpg)
LENA NYADBI
Dayiwul and Jimbirla NgarrangkarniWAC049/09
Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canvas
Dayiwul and Jimbirla Ngarrangk… | WAC049/09
Natural Ochre and Pigments on Canva…
45 x 120cm | 17.72 x 47.24in
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Nyadbi has painted two of her principal Dreamings, Dayiwul and Jimbirla Ngarrangkarni.
On the top of the painting are the shapes symbolising the Dayiwul Ngarrangkarni (Barramundi Dreaming). In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) three women were chasing Dayiwul (the barramundi). They tried to trap her with spinifex nets. This is a traditional method of fishing where ngirriny (river spinifex) is rolled in the water forming a net.
However, Dayiwul was too clever for the women and jumped through the net. When she landed she turned into a range of hills, today called Pitt Range (shown in this painting). The women gave up and walked to a place called Gawinji (Cattle Creek) where they turned into rocks.
On the bottom half of the painting you can see the representations of the Jimbirla (spearheads) painted in all the different colours that naturally occur in these stones. Jimbirla (Spearhead) country is Nyadbi’s father’s country. It lies north of Warmun, towards Doon Doon Station. This is sharp, stony country.
Gija people used to wrap their feet in paperbark or calico when hunting kangaroos in the hills, to stop the sharp stones from cutting their feet. Jimbirla (spearheads) were traditionally made of these stones, and later of glass. Jimbirla are attached to garlumbuny (spear shafts).
Nyadbi says that in this country, you can find many different coloured stones that were used to make jimbirla . In the early days people used to break these stones with a strong stick, to make the spearhead sharp. In this work Nyadbi has painted the jimbirla with ochre from that country.
On the top of the painting are the shapes symbolising the Dayiwul Ngarrangkarni (Barramundi Dreaming). In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) three women were chasing Dayiwul (the barramundi). They tried to trap her with spinifex nets. This is a traditional method of fishing where ngirriny (river spinifex) is rolled in the water forming a net.
However, Dayiwul was too clever for the women and jumped through... Read More