Simplicia Tipungwuti Tiwi, b. 1979
70 7/8 x 47 1/4 in
Long-time – Old People
This painting is about long-time ago and this one old lady who had six kids. They were hungry and thirsty looking for food and water.
This one old lady she was travelling around. There was nothing no water. Even no animals. She travelled with her kids behind her back. And she started to make a hole and then the water came out. Then they had lots of animals, different kinds. She made four Islands like Darwin, Bathurst and here (Melville Island). She made lots of sea creatures that were good as food. Crabs, barramundis, mud mussels, longbums, stingrays, turtles, dugongs, fishes. And she made the islands.
She was travelling with her kids behind making more water and islands because it was all empty. Then there were lots of people then. She made the waters and all the sea animals. Then she made the islands. Then there were old people and young people. They were making a fire and then they started dancing around the fire. They were happy because water was everywhere.