Collection Online
Medium
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Measurements
244.0 × 244.0 cm
Place/s of Execution
Upwey, Melbourne, Victoria
Accession Number
1997.146
Department
First Nations Australia
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by the artist, Fellow, 1997
© Reproduced courtesy of the Estate of Ginger Riley Munduwalawala & Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
This painting tells a story about a group of young fellows who killed some flying foxes which live around the Four Arches created by Garimala. When Garimala, in the guise of Bulukbun, saw this he followed the young fellows who ran away through caverns under the mountain. He caught some and killed them with his fiery breath. Those who escaped were then caught in the first and second caves shown on top of the Four Arches. Bulukbun was angry with these young fellows because they had not been initiated properly and people were able to smell the boys blood. The river shown at the base of this painting is the Limmen Bight River which runs through the artist's traditional countrty and is part of the creation track followed by Garimala. Ngak Ngak, the white-breasted sea eagle, who created his mother's country, the island Yarramandji, when he flew over it, is shown in his role as sentinel, having a good look around. Yarramandji, which means shark, is his mother's totem. The painting is framed by triangular wedge shapes of the artist's body paint design.