Gawarrk (Woman turned into rock)
Date2006
Maker
Djalinda Yunupingu Dulamari
Australian Aboriginal, born 1954
Label TextArtist Djalinda Yunupingu Dulamari: "Nobody knows where the miyalk (woman) named Gawarrk came from. She wasn't Macassan, European or Yolngu (Aboriginal). She was from an unknown people. She swam from Dhambaliya (Bremer Island) where my family lives now, towards Gutjangan, our homeland, to Banupanuwuy and then to Bolulawuy, where the barge landing is now. Here she danced with two swords which broke when she hit them together. The swords fell into the water and the miyalk turned into the rock called Gawarrk. The dance that Gawarrk did on the beach with the swords is done in Yirritja Ceremonies today. Some of the places at Dhambaliya are Yirritja, but mostly Dhuwa land and sea. The anchor indicates that Dhambaliya has abundant freshwater."
Object number2007.81.2
Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann
Credit LineGift of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
DimensionsImage: 15 3/4 x 21 1/4 in. (40 x 54 cm)
Sheet: 22 1/16 x 29 15/16 in. (56 x 76 cm)
MediumLinocut in two colors, printed from two blocks
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