Description
Rawu is the ocean strait between Bremer Island and the mainland bounded by Galuru (East Woody) Nhulunby and Yirrkala. Members of the Djambarrpuyngu and Rirrapjingu clans have equal ownership of this area. When a person from either of these two clan groups dies the funeral ceremony centres around Rawu which encompasses not only the water but also the currents and the ocean bed. The patterning in the print is representative of the currents and changes of currents within the waves in this particular stretch of water which is sacred to the artist’s clan. The print also refers to the warrior and hunter, Mururruma whose burial site is the ocean bed beneath Rawu.
