Carved Ngintaka (goanna) by Billy Wara
Object No. 2004/15/1
This collection of carved animals from Uluru in the Northern Territory are a significant addition to the Indigenous collection. The Museum has a limited number of objects in the collection from the Mutitjulu community. All three of the artists are senior custodians in the community, with Topsy and Pulya being founding members of the Maruku Arts centre. Contemporary carvings by Anangu (Central and Western Desert Aboriginal people) are known as punu, hand carved and decorated with walka, patterns burnt into the wood with wire heated on a wood fire. The animals all have their associations with the Tjukurpa, the stories of the Creation Ancestors and the activities which shaped the land, the people and their law. Tjukurpa is celebrated in inma (ceremony, song and dance), story telling and art work. Many of the details of Tjukurpa are restricted to senior custodians.
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Summary
Object Statement
Carved animal, 'Ngintaka' (goanna), river red gum, made by Billy Wara, Maruku Arts, Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, 2003
Physical Description
Large life-size carved Ngintaka (goanna), decorated with patterns burnt into the wood. The goanna is carved from a single section of wood and sit on four small legs. The head and the tail extend directly out from the canter of the piece with a subtle curve.
DIMENSIONS
Height
200 mm
Width
120 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Contemporary carvings by Anangu (Central and Western Desert Aboriginal people) are known as punu, hand carved and decorated with patterns burnt into the wood. The animals all have their associations with the Tjukurpa, the stories of the Creation Ancestors and the activities which shaped the land, the people and the law. While many of the details of Tjukurpa are restricted to the senior custodians, this carving relates the law of Wati Ngintaka, Perentie Lizard Man, and Billy Wara tells his story this way: "And they were searching him as they went along. At Aran they frisked his stomach. But they couldn't find anything, searching in vain and left. The Perentie from my country is important, my law is very strong at Aran."
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 2004
Acquisition Date
11 February 2004
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