munhala-dhamarrandji
Homeland: Yilpara
Clan: Djambarrpuyŋu
Moiety:
This artist depicts the Djambarrpuyŋu clan design of Batjimurruŋu.
This design carries the miny’tji of Batjimurruŋu a shellfish of the mangroves area which climbs the aerial roots of the mangroves as the tide comes in. It is sung by the Djambarrpuyngu clan with the Guyula / Dhamarrandji surnames and relates to the Buckingham Bay area of Gurula Dhulmuwandany. It is a design learnt by the artist via her mother’s first husband and is her classificatory sister clan.
This place and design, songs and the shellfish itself are related to the songlines of the Djaŋ’kawu sisters of the Dhuwa moiety.
Batjimurruŋu is Cassidula angulifera or the Angular Ear Shell. The synonyms are miniminipi and mitjalaŋaniŋ.
Munhala’s bark paintings were included in the 2023 group exhibition Gatjpu at Laundry Gallery in Darwin.
