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Burringurrah - Mt Augustus

2025
acrylic on canvas
197x186cm
FW22746

 

The Creation Story of Burringurrah, Mt Augustus, is the Dreamtime story named after a young man named Burringurrah, who ran away from Aboriginal Law. His punishment was that he was chased and speared in the leg.  As he ran away, he dragged his wana, fighting stick, which formed the rivers, creeks and waterways you see today in the Upper Gascoyne region of Western Australia. Then he fell to the ground and was clubbed on his head as he was lying on his belly. This was his final resting place.

When growing up out in the bush as children, we were told the story of this sacred mountain. We knew when a big storm was approaching because, in front of the mountain, there would first be a dust storm, as you can see in the pale yellow dots in the centre of the painting. Sometimes we could hear the sound of thunder coming from the mount, yet there were no clouds in sight. The mount changes to many different colours from dark blues, to purples, to pale blues, according to the spirit dreaming of Burringurrah.

When the warnah buna, the thunderstorm, comes, it fills up all the rivers and creeks, flooding the dry land and then the wildflowers start blooming across the country like a beautiful colourful carpet. The bush food starts growing all over the Gascoyne and Upper Gascoyne regions.

 

$12,000

This artwork is available for sale.