Lawrence Nganjmirra 1976
Kunwinjku. Mayali. Djalama clan.
Yirridja og Nabangardi subsection
Injalak Arts and Crafts Association
Gunbalanya (Oenpelli),
Western Arnhem Land,
Arnhem Land region,
Northern Territory
Mimi-hunting
Ochre on bark
”In this particular painting Lawrence has painted a Mimi Hunting scene. According to the Kunwinjku people of Western Arnhem Land, Mimis were the original spirit beings and taught Aboriginal people many of the skills they needed to survive in the bush, along with ceremonies, dance and song.
These spirits continue to live in rocks, trees and caves but are rarely seen by humans. They are frequently seen in the rock art of Arnhem Land as small, dynamic figures.
They are shown here with hunting weapons such as spears, woomeras and digging sticks. Various edible fish, reptiles and mammals are found in the billabongs, water courses, wetlands and rocky escarpments that occur throughout western Arnhem Land in the ‘Top End’ of Australia.
Some of the animals being hunted by the Mimis in this painting include narbalek rock wallaby, which are prized game as well as being totems for some clans. Other animals include kalawan – (goanna) - a reptile that is frequently caught and eaten and has white meat. The Ngalmangiyi - a long-necked turtle that also has rich white flesh and is sought for its eggs, which are laid in mud.
Women are often seen hunting with kunkarninj (sharp sticks) that are used to prod the mud. The best time for hunting turtle is six or so months after kudjewk (the monsoon season) that occurs in the beginning of the year.
Also depicted in this painting are two of the more unusual animals that live in the Arnhem Land, lambalk sugar gliders and ngarrbek echidna. Echidnas are one of only two species of monotreme (a mammal that lays eggs) in the world. The other is the platypus. Echidnas eat ants and termites, and despite such an unappealing diet have tasty flesh and are highly prized as bush tucker.
The lambalk sugar gliders are nocturnal and frequent the woodland regions. Lambalk are not a food source for the people because of the lack of meat. In this painting Lawrence has shown both the animals and Mimis in fine cross hatched, parallel ‘Rarrk’ detail according to his style.”
