PAINT-UP

AUSTRALIANA Aboriginal Art –

This book was inspired by the body paint worn by the Mornington Island dancers – Each dancer has a particular paint-up design which is of immense cultural significance – Previously, knowledge of these designs was transferrred orally, but with changing times, the elders realised that to put the designs in a book could be their gift to the younger generation – This book is the result.

Shovel-nose sharks, dingoes, the morning star and rainbows feature in ‘paint-up’; the age-old practice of decorating the bodies of dancers for the corroboree. Amanda Ahern became fascinated with the distinctive body-art designs while working on Mornington Island. With a background in anthropology and visual arts, she approached the local Elders to involve the community in documenting for posterity the dancers’ body-paint designs and their meaning. The result is this first-ever publication to describe in drawings, photographs and stories the unique geography of the Top End and the rich traditions and legends of the Muyinda ancestors. The practice of ‘paint-up’ is an expression of culture rather than art. Each body-paint design is of profound cultural significance, identifying the wearer with country, sacred sites and ancestral groups.

• viii, 104 p. : ill., ports. ; 21 x 28 cm. First Edition. #280626

• • Introduction
  • Geography
  • Cultural heritage
  • What is a totem?
  • Skin groups
  • Boundaries
  • Totem designs
  • – Notes
  • The first people of Mornington Island
  • Thuwathu: The Rainbow Serpent
  • Kakawuny: Boney-winged seagull
  • Ngarembee: Dingo
  • Gidegal bana thuwathu: Moon and Rainbow Serpent
  • Wurruku: The Shark
  • Wulma: Hammerhead shark
  • Thanbe: Shovel-nose shark
  • Lamenburren: Tiger shark
  • Balibal: Spotted stingray
  • Milmajah: Barramundi
  • Gunjin: Wallaby
  • Jakiriijarr: Sea hawk
  • The two fat boys
  • Kamba: Rock cod
  • Kurruuduwa: Little red-legged devils
  • Gurrbudjee: Brown hawk
  • Balmud: Death sentence
  • Burrtunantha: Brolga
  • Dunkumudin: Sleepy old turtle
  • Dibirdi: Rock cod
  • Kendabal: Dugong
  • Women’s paint-up
  • Kathaku: Redbill
  • Wunda: Rain
  • Ngarijan: Morning star
  • The future of paint-up
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary.

  • First Nations (AIATSIS) Subject:

    • Stories and motifs – Moon
    • Stories and motifs – Birds
    • Stories and motifs – Dugongs
    • Stories and motifs – Rainbow serpent
    • Stories and motifs – Dingoes / dogs
    • Stories and motifs – Sharks
    • Stories and motifs
    • Stories and motifs – Stars
    • Stories and motifs – Barramundi
    • Religion – Totemism
    • Art – Body art
    • Stories and motifs – Kangaroos / Wallabies
    • Social organisation – Kinship – Systems
    • Stories and motifs – Fish
    • Mornington Island (Qld Gulf Wellesley Islands SE54-01)

    Subject:

    • Aboriginal Australians — Queensland — Mornington Island — Folklore
    • Body painting — Queensland — Mornington Island
    • Mornington Island (Qld.) — Social life and customs