Shirley Purdie (born 1948)

GILBUN (MABEL DOWNS STATION), 2004

natural earth pigments on canvas
bears inscription verso: artist’s name, size and Warmun Art Centre cat. WAC 059/04

119.5 x 180.5 cm

Warmun Art Centre, Turkey Creek
Private collection, Darwin

This painting is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Warmun Art which states: ‘At the centre of the painting there is a hill with a cave in it. In the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) this was the nest for Gilbun (the raspy tail lizard). There is a spring (waterhole) by the same hill, where Shirley’s grandfather killed a water snake. Her grandmother ate the snake which made her sick and she became pregnant with Shirley’s father, Sandy Thomas. The spirit of the snake passed into the baby, and Sandy has marks on his side “where the snake was killed”.

CONDITION REPORT:

This work is in excellent, stable and original condition.