Lot 30: ATTRIBUTED TO BOBBY BARRDJARAY NGAINJMIRRA , CIRCA 1915-1992 YAWKYAWK SPIRITS Natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

Inscribed C361on the reverse Natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark

55 by 41 cm

Cf. For a stylistically comparable rendition of the figures by the artist see Luma-Luma the Giant Ancestral Spirit and two fish, n.d., in the collection of the National Museum of Australia, in Aboriginal Arts Board, Oenpelli Bark Paintings, Ure Smith, Sydney, 1979, p.42, pl.38, illus

Among the Kuninjku and Kunwinjku speaking peoples of western Arnhem Land, yawkyawk is the generic name given to a particular type of female water spirit. The yawkyawk are the daughters of the apical ancestor Yingarna, who also gave birth to Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent. The yawkyawk escaped the advances of the giant Lumahlumah by jumping into a waterhole and growing fishtails