Deutscher and Hackett

Buku–Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala, Northern Territory (cat. 4581G)
Private collection, Victoria, acquired from the above

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku–Larrŋgay Mulka Centre which states in part:

"This work ... was made at Gangan when Gunybi noticed a discarded Galvanised water tank. It came about through Gunybi's incessant desire to experiment with materials. He obeys the longterm stricture from Buku-elders "if you are going to paint the land use the land" but stretches it to use items that he finds on the land. In this case a discarded watertank at Gangan stimulated him to learn how to weld and to attach the feet. He painted it with an oil based paint and ground and scratched the-surface. After it was brought into the art centre it was epoxied by Arnhem ush taxis and teh weld [sic] strengthened by Bunuwal Industrial.

This work identifies the reservoirs of the Naymil/Datiwuy clan. Alkan is an area on Naymil land and sea between the Gurrumuru and Cato Rivers that run into the Arnhem Bay. Within this area is another watercourse that leads up into a sacred 
area of a freshwater spring or Millŋurr with special qualities called Balawurru. Dhangultji or Brolga are dancing here. Here Djanda the sacred goanna also swim in the lagoon created by the spring, their actions as they swim causing patterns to be made on the surface that is covered by the totemic waterweed Darra."