| ID |
UNSW BP 1988/0461 (082261) |
| Artist |
Joyita NAMALU ( - ) |
| Title |
Jingana, the mother Rainbow Serpent |
| Alternate Titles |
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| Category |
Painting |
| Medium |
bark |
| Materials |
ochres on eucalyptus bark |
| Edition Number |
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| Measurements (cms) |
|
| Height |
118.00 |
| Width |
55.00 |
| Depth |
0.00 |
| Other |
Box frame: 146.3 x 86.8 x 9.4 cms |
| Marks/Inscriptions |
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| Location |
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| Signed |
|
| Produced |
|
| When |
|
| Where |
Australia, NW Arnhem Land, Oenpelli |
| Style |
NW Arnhem Land |
| Subject |
Rainbow Serpent |
| Credit Line |
Presented by Dr Milton Roxanas through the Australian Government's Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme, 1988 |
| Description/Remarks |
Label attached verso reads:
"JINGANA THE MOTHER RAINBOW SERPENT
Jingana is the most powerful of the three Rainbow Serpents of Western Arnhemland. She lives mostly under the ground or in billabong. The cabbage tree palms around the billabongs are her food.
In the earliest times she became furious at the odd shapes all creatures bore, some being half human, half animal, bird, fish and reptile. So she swallowed everything then regurgitated them in the shapes they bear today.
Later she gave birth to the two eggs in her belly, a son called Ngalyod and a daughter called, Ngalgunburijaimi. Ngalyod had the body of a serpent and the head of a crocodile, like his mother. His sister had the body of a serpent and the tail of a fish. Both have feathered head-dresses similar to their mother and Ngalyod has a bony protuberance on his chest to help him burrow underground.
All of the Rainbow Serpents are much feared and have tremendous power. They keep the balance of the seasons - the Wet and the Dry - provided they are kept happy and the people do not displease them in any way. But if angry they call down torrential rain in the normally dry season or can withhold storms in the wet season so plants do not grow. Their forked tongues make lightning and the vapour from their breath causes storm clouds to form. They then pierce the storm clouds with their tongues.
In this painting the artist has depicted Jingana with the two eggs." |
| Exhibition History |
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| Bibliography |
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