Namarnday spirits
(early 1960s)
- Medium
- earth pigments on Stringybark (Eucalyptus sp.)
- Measurements
- 85.7 × 44.4 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Minjilang, Croker Island, Northern Territory
- Accession Number
- 2000.224
- Department
- First Nations Australia
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gerstl Bequest, 2000
© The Artist/Licensed by Aboriginal Artists Agency Limited
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation - Gallery location
- Not on display
- About this work
-
Namarnday spirits are malignant or profane spirits of the human dead, associated with love magic and acts of sorcery used as a punishment for sexual misconduct. The male and female spirits are particularly animated and have prominent genitalia common to sorcery paintings found on cave walls. One painting represents male and female spirits in an erotic rather than malevolent act. The other shows male Namarnday with limbs and genitals abnormally long and twisted, symbolic of evil or retributive intent.