Dolphin
Maker
Mickey Wungulba
Date1991
Object number00015590
NameSculpture
MediumWood, ochre
DimensionsOverall: 155 x 710 x 260 mm, 2 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionCarved from a single piece of timber this sculptural piece represents a dolphin of northern Arnhem Land. The dorsal and two pectoral fins have been carved from separate pieces of wood and adhered in place. The carving has then been painted with a cross-hatched design in local ochres.
Indigenous people respect the food resources that sustain them and they celebrate the turtle in rituals that aim to increase the bounty of the species.HistoryCarved figurative sculptures can be central elements in rituals and are associated with spirit and totemic beings connected to particular sites. Specific social groups or clans use these objects in ceremonies which can include dance and song where the object is carried or used as a focal point. They can also be an expression of the artist interpreting his or her land, everyday occurrences and specific animals endemic to their area.
Different types of wood are used according to region. Ironwood is both heavy and hard, limiting the amount of detail that can be achieved which is compensated for by the very detailed painting that decorates the figure. Soft woods allow extensive incising. A complete section of the carving is painted with a solid colour and patterns are created by incising through the colour to the yellowish wood.SignificanceThis carved figurative sculpture is an expression of the artist interpreting a dolphin from his area of Maningrida in the Northern Territory.
