Family Connections: Ochres
Past exhibition
Betty Carrington Australian, Gija, 1944-2022
Burning of the moon
natural ochre and pigments on canvas
60 x 45 cm
831779
'Karnkiny ngenenkga ngelertlang burab ngitji marnam pubatji jatayiuinyji pip yiyanmanyji marnambany kurarah guwaj yiyilgji elyukjitenengji kurarah panujtah yarrah jirrimyam pakapal jarrampany kurntarrim mablungoogarim ngarim minjarram pirreyel. The moon is facing...
'Karnkiny ngenenkga ngelertlang burab ngitji marnam pubatji jatayiuinyji pip yiyanmanyji marnambany kurarah guwaj yiyilgji elyukjitenengji kurarah panujtah yarrah jirrimyam pakapal jarrampany kurntarrim mablungoogarim ngarim minjarram pirreyel.
The moon is facing west. The fire is burning big. We have to go hunting and get all the bush tucker. All the sugarbag fish, black plum and goanna. We ask them for everything.'
This painting is about the firestick ceremony. 'Every month when the new moon appears, Gija people burn a stick in the fire and hold it up to the moon.
They 'gurrarra the moon' (talk to it in language), and ask it to bring them good hunting. If you do not welcome the new moon you will have a very bad month for hunting. This ritual is practised quite casually and o en wishes are made for the well-being of neighbours, good health or good luck - an equivalent in European culture of wishing upon a falling star.
The moon is facing west. The fire is burning big. We have to go hunting and get all the bush tucker. All the sugarbag fish, black plum and goanna. We ask them for everything.'
This painting is about the firestick ceremony. 'Every month when the new moon appears, Gija people burn a stick in the fire and hold it up to the moon.
They 'gurrarra the moon' (talk to it in language), and ask it to bring them good hunting. If you do not welcome the new moon you will have a very bad month for hunting. This ritual is practised quite casually and o en wishes are made for the well-being of neighbours, good health or good luck - an equivalent in European culture of wishing upon a falling star.