Boliny Wanambi (1957 - 2011)

DHULAKU AT YANAWUL, 2012

natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

167.0 x 70.0 cm (irregular)

bears inscription verso: artist’s name and Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre cat. 2684E

Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre, Yirrkala, Northern Territory
Private collection, Melbourne

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre, Yirrkala, that states in part:

‘Dhulaku is the adult male Arnhem Land Euro, totem for the Marrakulu clan and ancestral custodian of artists clan estate of Yanawal. This Marrakulu country is inland from Gurka’wuy on Trial Bay and is open woodland of stringy bark and granite boulders. Seasonal rains create seepages of sacred freshwater that run through these rocks, the white dots representing blossom carried on the surface and the life force within and for the Marrakulu. This minytji or sacred clan design for this country also depicts in its various manifestations the blossoms, bees and native honey within the hollow log of the Gadayka (stringy bark tree). This is what creator being Wuyal the sugarbag man was looking for in this country. His actions of searching for honey were witnessed by Dhulaku.’