MARDAYIN AT KAKODBEBULDI, 2002
JOHN MAWURNDJUL
natural earth pigments on stringybark (Eucalyptus tetradonta)
99.0 x 55.0 cm (irregular)
bears inscription on label verso: artist's name, medium, size, language group and Maningrida Arts and Culture cat. 6349-02
Maningrida Arts and Culture, Maningrida, Northern Territory
Short Street Gallery, Broome
Private collection, Melbourne
This work is accompanied by certificates of authenticity from Short St Gallery, and Maningrida Arts and Culture which states:
'This work by the artist concerns a major patrimoiety ceremony of a secret and sacred nature called 'Mardayin'. Much of the meaning of the iconography in the painting is not in the domain of public knowledge and so it cannot be explained in detail here.
The painting refers to a site, Kakodbebuldi, which is an outstation in Dangkorlo clan estate in the Mann River region. Kakodbebuldi is a Mardayin ceremony performance site and is located on a large billabong covered in waterlilies. This place is about 50km south of Maningrida in Central North Arnhem Land.'