Fire
$1,700.00
Fire is as basic as water and land to the Gumatj, one of the largest clans in Arnhem Land. Fire in Ancestral times scorched ground where creators had gathered to enact the lore that was the secret knowledge that held the power. This was spread to other Gumatj lands carried by various means across the country imbued by the fire. In Ancestral times, the leaders of Yirritja moiety clans used fire for the first time during a ceremony at Ngalarrwuy in Gumatj country. This came about as fire brought to the Madarrpa clan country by Bäru the ancestral crocodile, spread north and swept through the ceremonial ground. From this ceremonial ground the fire spread further to other sites. Various Ancestral animals were affected and reacted in different ways. These animals became sacred totems of the Gumatj people and the areas associated with these events became important sites. The fire spread inland from the ceremonial ground and burnt the nest of Wangkurra forcing him to hide in a hollow log (larrakitj) to save himself. Wangkurra is thus danced and sung at mortuary ceremony as he is associated with the burial log used to contain the bones of the deceased. Djirrikitj, the quail, (sometimes called the ’fire making bird’), picked up a burning twig from this fire and flew away with it, dropping it at Matamata. There is a large paperbark swamp at Matamata, where native honey bees live. Fire from the burning twig dropped by Djirrikitj took hold of the tall grass in the swamp area and the native bees fled to Djiliwirri in Gupapuyngu clan country. Thus Gupapuyngu honey and Gumatj fire are linked through these ancestral events and also refer to a relationship between these two clans which is played out in ceremony. Gumatj clan design associated with these events, a diamond design, represents fire; the red flames, the white smoke and ash, the black charcoal and the yellow embers. Clans owning connected parts of this sequence of Ancestral events share variations of this diamond design. Owners of country with rights to the knowledge of their land, the Gumatj are also evoked, the skin, the blood, bone and fat. © Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre
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Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Shipping policy
Domestic Shipping Policy – Artwork price includes shipping within Australia. Larger artworks (100 cm +) are sent via Parcel Send and tracking numbers are provided. Due to our remote location, Parcel Send is delivered to Nhulunbuy for on forwarding once a week. If there is a significant delay in shipment of your order, we will contact you via email or telephone. Delivery delays can occur.
Smaller items are sent via registered Australia Post.
It will take us a few days to work through all the orders and then deliver with Parcel Send or Australia Post. 10-14 days is a good guide to how long it can take.
International purchases are sent via UPS or Australia Post and may incur additional cost.
All barks are sold with an aluminium framing system ready to be hung. Larrakitj and carvings will not include stands or supports for display, please email contact@gapuwiyak.com.au or leave a message in your sale for more information on the manufacture of Larrakitj and sculpture stands or supports.
All canvases are delivered rolled and in a tube and do not include a stretcher frame.
Works on paper are unframed and sent flat with foam-core backing board.
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Refund policy
Cancellation / Return / Exchange Policy
Refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All artworks are insured and should damage occur in transit the customer will be offered the options to repair, exchange or refund the work.
In the case of damage the art centre will arrange the pick up and return of the work.
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts Return policy
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair takes no responsibility for the negotiation, coordination or distribution of freight and shipping of purchases made at the online Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. Items customers wish to purchase may require a manual quote for freight which will be charged separately.
- Shipping and freight costs are not included in the advertised purchase price unless this is stipulated at the point of purchase of the item by the Art Centre/Vendor.
- All freight and shipping must be arranged directly with the Art Centre/Vendor from where the purchase was made.
- If multiple items are purchased from different Art Centres/Vendors in the same transaction, customers must arrange shipping with each Art Centre/Vendor.
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair takes no responsibility for the distribution and arrival times of freight. As the Art Centres/Vendors participating in the online Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair are located in some of the most remote locations in Australia, freight services can be inconsistent.
- Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair takes no responsibility for any damaged or lost items.
