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Artist:
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Djunmal
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Title:
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Bark Painting with Suns, Fish and Plants
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Date:
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20th century
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Medium:
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Eucalyptus bark, pigments
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Dimensions:
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76 1/2 x 25 1/2 in. (194.3 x 64.8 cm) (irregular)
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Credit Line:
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Gift in memory of Nucy Meech from her children Laurie, Christopher, Charlie and Julie
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Location:
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Gallery 256
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Most bark paintings illustrate a particular Dreaming, a story that explains the creation of life, people, and animals. In Aboriginal culture, only those with knowledge and ownership of certain Dreamings can depict the corresponding designs.
This bark painting tells the story of the two Djang'kawu sisters, creator ancestors who traveled to the Arnhem Land region in northern Australia by canoe. Along the way, they named the sea animals like the swordfish, starfish, anemones, and squid shown here.
Object Description
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Classification:
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Painting
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Physical Description:
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ocher, red, white and black pigment on eucalyptus bark panel (unmounted), panel divided into three areas by geometric motifs, each filled with similar compositions of suns, fish, plant and geometric motifs; the panel is somewhat rippled
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Creation Place:
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Oceania, Australia, Northeastern Arnhem Land
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Accession #:
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95.37.2
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Owner:
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The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
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