Samson Bonson // Susan Marawarr
ago — at Vivien Anderson Gallery
MIMIH SPIRIT SCULPTURES
SAMSON BONSON
The world of the mimih spirit is at play in this exhibition of new work by Samson Bonson. The society of mimih spirits is replete with family groups, politics and histories. Known to be mischievous, they live in stone country and are often slender enough to travel through the rock escarpment from their world to ours. bonson shows his mastery in the refined form and mark-making of these Kuninjku spirits. The ‘dihl dihl’ or dot dot, inspired by ceremonial body design, is applied to the main body of the spirits like a misted rain.
MANDJABU BARK PAINTINGS
SUSAN MARAWARR
Susan Marawarr venerates the Mandjabu – Fish trap, a creative memorium to her father, Anchor gulunba, a renowned “clever man” and sculptor of the monumental fish trap. Marawarr recreates the majesty of the spiritual entity that resides in the fish trap, which is an ancient sophisticated sustainable method of hunting. the design allows for the trapping of larger mature fish whilst enabling the smaller fish to escape, thus sustaining the breeding cycle of the stock. the spiritual and practical entwined.