Phyllis Thomas

Body Paint - Daiwal

9
votes

Phyllis Thomas

Body Paint - Daiwal

Medium: Natural Earth Pigments on Canvas
Size: 60x90cm
Year: 2008
Price: $ POA

Phyllis has painted a depiction of the Daiwal (Barramundi) scales that are an important part of the Kitja Women's Culture. The Elder women often paint this design in the ochre on the top half of their bodies for dancing, cultural meetings and ceremonies. The work is significant and traditional, with the barramundi scales painted in white against a black ochre background.

The Barramundi Dreaming sites are secret places where the Kitja Women meet to discuss the Law, initiate the young women and pass their culture to the young ones. One if the favorite Ngarrangkarni (Dreamtime) stories is told by the young women that long time ago, the women were fishing for Barramundi with woven nets. One escaped from the net and flew right over the Kitja land, dropping its scales to make the diamonds in the area. It is believed that the Tradition of the Barramundi Dreaming is far deeper than this story.

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