This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity verso from Maningrida Arts and Culture which states:
‘It is well known that Aboriginal art often depicts images of sacred totems or dreamings of Aboriginal culture. However, the world of the non-sacred also provides a rich source of subject matter for Aboriginal art. Much of the rock art of western Arnhem Land for example depicts secular topics such as common food animals and plants, depicted because of their importance economically but also merely because of their existence in the environment.
Ivan Namirrkki has painted a plains turkey or kori bustard [Ardeotis kori], which they call ‘benok’ in Kuninjka. He painted this bird with several effs of which one is cracked open. The dry season reaching from May till October is hunting season for these and many other birds. They are much liked as food sources by Aboriginal people and are very common on Manirrki’s country.