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photo by Roy Ryan (copyright). Bolda Hunter & kids
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Language Group: Jawoyn . Skin/Subsection Namayang/Wumud
Moiety : Dhuwa
Area : Werrenbun, Pine Creek, Arnhemland and Kakadu
Bolda's story is both romantic and unique. His origins are unknown, although adopted into white society from birth, Bolda has lived over two decades with
Jawoyn and other Aboriginal people of Arnhemland. Under the guidance and instruction of senior Jawoyn elders, Bolda shares, lives and maintains a traditional life style and culture. His art has been exhibited nationally and internationally, finding ready acceptance for his excellent quality paintings and authentic stories. Additionally he is one of the finest exponents of the Gunbarrk, didjeridu. However Bolda's greatest joy is in teaching his five children (Na-Jalung, Na-jatbula, Na-Daypilama, Ngal-Jarlmaykan-Lenjilenji Woy) and Marky-Boddo, about their Jawoyn ancestral land and culture. He has appeared on numerous media presentations and newspaper interviews, to educate people to the richness of the Jawoyn traditional knowledge systems, his bim (art), Gunbarrk (didjeridu) and Yernderr (cultural knowledge).
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| bh2009.04 | |
| Barraya - Kookaburra | |
| unframed canvas 295*210 mm | |
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This "bim", painting shows "Barraya", the blue winged kingfisher (kookaburra) singing at ngan-langga (billabong), among werrng, spring pandanus. "Barraya" is an important dreaming figure.
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| 0610kordin | |
| Kordin, the rock kangaroo | |
| canvas 210*160 mm | |
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This bim (painting) shows kordin, the rock kangaroo who lives in bat-luk (stone country) and inhabit bat-dum (caves) amongst bat-guyang guyang, the arnhemland sandstone escarpment. Kordin are often kept like a "pet dog" by mimi spirits who live in the stone country. The painting is in x-ray technique.
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| bh2009.04c | |
| "Giyowk" -fish | |
| 295*210 mm on Archers art paper | |
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This bim (painting) shows "Giyowk", fish they are "Martbiyn", barramundi, "Na Gert Mi", black bream and a long tom all good "darga", traditional bush food and also important totems.
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| 0807 | |
| Mimi & spear | |
| Framed Canvas 270*240 mm | |
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Mimi Spirits were here before man, they taught man lots of secrets and normal things. This Mimi has gunbarrk-didgeridoo and is preparing to hunt swiftly to his lover for some "play".
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| bh2009.04aa | |
| Bolda Hunter | |
| 295*210 mm on Archers art paper | |
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Genga is the dangerous salt water crocodile, here he watches martbiyn the barramundi. They are very important cultural symbols to traditional countrymen from south Kakadu.
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| 2009.04c | |
| Bornarrong and Yam | |
| unframed Archers art paper 295*219mm | |
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Shown is "jati", the frog whose job at the end of "jungalk" season, is to "na-garra-wukanay", "sing" the rain, he really does a good job especially during the "wet" season of the "top end". jati is seen swimming in ngan-langga, billabong amongst gem, waterlilly.
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| 2009.4c | |
| Bolda Hunter | |
| art paper 295*210 mm | |
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Jarnarran, the majestic jabiru is seen looking for his darga, food near, a waterway near "jim-jim", water pandanus. One of the giyowk, fish, he likes to eat is seen swimming amongst "gem", waterlillies. It is "Borrt, the boney bream.
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| 2009.04c | |
| Bornarrong and Yam | |
| unframed Archers art paper 295*219mm | |
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Bornarrong, brolga s looking for the may, bush tucker called unditjgala, the billabong yam shown in the centre
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| 0702duck | |
| Juywuyuk ", the whistle duck, | |
| Framed canvas 130*130 mm | |
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This Bim (painting) shows the "Wang" bird called "Juywuyuk ", the whistle duck, diving for their food. They are a favourite bush tucker to people of the top end
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| bh0807 | |
| Martbiyn | |
| unframed canvas 500*280 mm | |
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Martbiyn, the barramundi seen swimming among gem, waterlillies
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| bh0610genga | |
| Genga the salt water crocodile | |
| Framed canvas 260*170 mm | |
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Genga is the dangerous salt water crocodile, here Borrt, the boney bream makes a hasty escape. Both are very important cultural symbols to traditional countrymen from south Kakadu.
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| Marram - the Kite | |
| unframed art paper 590*420mm | |
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Marram, the Kite often seen in great numbers circling burn back bush fires feeding off the insects retreating from the smoke.
they feed on many other things many pictured in the painting. this is the first time Bolda has painted Marram for us.
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| 0807bark | |
| Bolda Hunter - "Barrk" | |
| unframed art paper 580*390 mm | |
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Barrk, the black wallaroo, he lives in Bat-Luk, the escarpment country of Kakadu. Barrk is rarely seen as he lives in bat-dum, cave, seen at the bottom. Mimi spirits treat him like a pet, just like dog. Barrk is a major totem figure.
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| 0912bark | |
| Bolda Hunter - "Barrk" | |
| unframed art paper 420*300 mm | |
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Barrk, the black wallaroo, he lives in Bat-Luk, the escarpment country of Kakadu. Barrk is rarely seen as he lives in bat-dum, cave, seen at the bottom. Mimi spirits treat him like a pet, just like dog. Barrk is a major totem figure.
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| 0803jan | |
| janaran | |
| art paper 580*390 mm | |
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janaran the magnificent jabiru looking for (darga), food
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| 0804.03 | |
| ngalmuka-women | |
| art paper 580*390 mm | |
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The essential qualities of women and their role in traditional Aboriginal society
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| bh0201mam | |
| Bolda Hunter | |
| Framed Archers paper 590*420 mm | |
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Mam (Devil Devil) called Na-Bongitj-Gitj who was a sorcerer before he became a Debil Debil. He is seen wandering the "stone country looking for victims with his "killing club"
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| 0703mimlovers | |
| Mimi Lovers | |
| Framed art paper 580*390 mm | |
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Mimi Spirits were here before man, they taught him lots of secrets and normal things. These Mimis are lovers and are looking for a "quite" place to "muck about"!
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| 0703mimlovers | |
| Mimi Lovers | |
| Framed art paper 580*390 mm | |
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| 0703kordin | |
| Kordin | |
| 590*380mm | |
| framed art paper 580*390 mm | |
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This bim (painting) shows kordin, the rock kangaroo who lives in bat-luk (stone country) and inhabit bat-dum (caves) amongst bat-guyang guyang, the arnhemland sandstone escarpment. Kordin are often kept like a "pet dog" by mimi spirits who live in the stone country. The artist has included a sacred area of his country near werrenbun
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| 0703 wari | |
| Ngal Wari Wari, mermaids | |
| Framed Artpaper 590*420 mm | |
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This bim, painting shows the freshwater mermaid, ngal-warri-warri that are dreaming for the sites called "worreluk" (king river) and "garadba-luk" in the bolmo jawoyn country. They live in bat-dum, caves under ngawayok-ngawayok, sacred springs. Here seen swimming in the clear blue spring waters amongst gem, waterlillies. From these waterholes life begins and finishes the artist has included a sacred area of his country near werrenbun .
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| 0703jana | |
| Jarnarran, | |
| Framed Artpaper 590*420 mm | |
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Jarnarran, the majestic jabiru is seen looking for his darga, food near, near gem, waterlilly. Some of the giyowk, fish, he likes to eat are seen swimming amongshey include; ngart-the shortneck turtle, borrt-the speckled bream, wutba- the eeltail catfish, jarla-the catfish and na-gert-mi-the black bream. Meanwhile above flying in the warm sunshine is merle-merle, the butterfly.
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| 0703brolgwife | |
| Bolda Hunter | |
| Framed Artpaper 590*420 mm | |
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Bornarrong, brolga dancing for his wife, by a ngan-langga, waterhole that is surrounded by werrng, spring pandanus. In the centre grows the may, bush tucker called unditjgala, the billabong yam.
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| 0703 | |
| Biyee | |
| Framed Artpaper 590*420 mm | |
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This bim, painting shows Biyee who is the female rock kangaroo, with her joey in her pouch. The det-tel, black shapes represents bat-luk, stone country. Biyee is the wife of kordin, the rock kangaroo.
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| bh0201jaw | |
| Borlung- the Rainbow serpent | |
| Framed Archers paper 760*560 mm | |
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Some important totems of Jawoyn people are seen: Marlonggo- the tree snake. Borlung- the Rainbow serpent. While the two Goymarr- the freshwater crocodile represent Na-Bilil- the crocodile Dreaming ancestor who created the Katherine and South Alligator rivers of Kakadu.
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| bh451 | |
| Corroboree dance | |
| Canvas 1300*1050 mm | |
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Elders instructing young men in important Walaka, Corroboree dance
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| bh812 | |
| Bolda Hunter | |
| Canvas 1400*920 mm | |
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Mam (Devil Devil) called Na-Bongitj-Gitj who was a sorcerer before he became a Devil Devil. He is seen wandering the "stone country looking for victims with his "killing club"
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| bh532 | |
| Borlung & Goymarr | |
| Canvas 900 mm diam | |
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Borlung, the Rainbow serpent, the Creator and destroyer is seen with his friends Goymarr, the fresh water crocodile and Jambala, the turtle. All are very important cultural symbols to traditional countrymen from south Kakadu.
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| Living Waters | |
| acrylic on linen 4000*2000 mm | |
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This huge bim, painting, shows giyowk, fish called wutba, the eel tail catfish and Jarla, the fish tail catfish swimming amongst gem, water lillies. They are traditional food sources as well as being important djang, (dreaming) ancestor. This painting is about "Law" of country as designated by the hands. The message is if you do not look after country it will rebel with dangerous consequences for all!
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