Garrimala

Garrimala' 2014 refers to a billabong close to Malaluba Gumana’s homeland of Gängan. Dominating the work are realistic representations of dhatam, the waterlily plant. Delicate miny’tji (clan designs) are set behind these graceful forms to represent djari (rainbows) and the power of lightning infused within them.

Garrimala is particularly imporant to Gumana’s mother’s Galpu clan and is connected to Wititj (an olive python commonly referred to as the rainbow serpent). Djayku (the Javanese filesnake) is a companion and possible alternate incarnation of Wititj and lives amongst the dhatam, causing ripples or rainbows on the surface of the water. The sun shining on the scales of Wititj also give the appearance of rainbows. Wititj is associated with the beginning of the wet season when square shaped clouds begin to form and lightning strikes are common.