Norman Mangawila

Aboriginal Bark painting on ochre collected 1970. Artist is Mangawila who was born in 1933. He has the right to paint the creatures that live among the trees and in the water along the shores of Milingimbi Island; all these creatures are his totems. His right to the ownership of these totems is established through his mother, because this is his mother is the country. Mangawila had to earn the right to paint these totems by completing certain ceremonies. Some totems are more important than others. The high totems;marian may not be seen by the uninitiated persons, the low totems;garma; may be seen by all. The actual totem representing these creatures may be made of wood, bark, or feathers, or a combination of all three. The finished article is always painted. Living among the Mangroves are Mangawila’s totems which are Shellfish, Trepang, Mangrove goanna, and sea snake. The Sea Halk, and the Mangrove Fish which is what is represented in this painting. It is painted with natural earth pigments on bark.