A MAN CALLED MURAYANA

Description

This painting is about a man called (Murayana); he travels around the bush looking for food, wild fruit called (Yaman) and wild honey. Murayana is shown with his spear (Gandiwulk). After gathering food, he sits under the bushes called (Warthalk) and rests

The diamond pattern on his chest and his woomera indicate the wild honey ancestral design. The diamonds represent cells filled with honey, bugs or eggs. This linked diamond design representing the wild honey ancestor is one example of this design.

This design is not unique to one clan, wild honey and the fire ancestral being closely associated with it. This man or warrior travelled widely throughout northeast Arnhem land, crossing territories of many clans of the Yirritja Moiety, protecting the area where the harvest of bush tucker was found.

Tony Djikulu

Clan: Gupapuynju

Moiety: Yirritja Homeland: Ramangini

Born: Milingimbi