Gandayala ga luku (The footprint of the kangaroo)
2003
- Medium
- earth pigments on Stringybark (Eucalyptus sp.)
- Measurements
- 160.0 × 55.0 cm
- Accession Number
- 2016.70
- Department
- First Nations Australia
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Ian Rogers through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2016
© Peter Lematua / Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia - Gallery location
- Gallery 2
Ground Level, NGV Australia - About this work
-
In this bark painting, Philip Gudthaykudthay represents Garrtjambal, the kangaroo, a significant totem of Ramingining. The artist has silhouetted elements of the kangaroo over a crosshatched grid, emblematic of Garrtjambal’s journey to Ramingining from the east and the terrain he passed through. Garrtjambal came from the eastern side of the Glyde River with the northeast wind, being chased by dogs. As he went through the jungle his tail was caught in a spider web that marked his skin with a sacred rain cloud pattern. He came upon a creek line and dug a hole in the ground that became a slow spring. He then became the land. There is a hill called Dungundha that is his head and the even, slightly sloping land of the town of Ramingining is the white fur on the kangaroo’s chest.