Christopher Watt “Marnbil, Djin-Djin and Dewallewal ” original acrylic on canvas 51cm x 40.5cm

Description

Mornington Island Art

Artist Christopher Watt  

Born: 1968 

Language: Lardil 

Origin: Baralkia 

Code 117-24 

Title: Marnbil, Djin-Djin and Dewallewal 

Created: 2024 

Dimensions: 51 x 40.5 cm 

Mediums: Acrylic on Canvas

“The first men and woman to come to Mornington Island were Marnbil, Djin-Djin and Dewallewal. Djin-Djin was married to  Marnbil and Dewallewal is Djin-Djin’s uncle. These three made the land, creating all the rivers, hills, animals, trees, wells, making  fish traps. They gave each animal a sacred place, and name, and made ceremonies for them, so that they could be protected. Now  Dewallewal did not have a wife of his own so he decided to steal Djin-Djin, thinking that Marnbil wouldn’t know. Marnbil knew that  Dewallewal had broken the law and he knew that he had stolen Djin-Djin, so he had to kill him. That was the law. Marnbil wounded  Dewallewal with a spear. Dewallewal shot straight up into the sky, still with the spear stuck in his back and cursed man to die from  all things. Before that, man had been immortal, but Dewallewal’s curse meant that they would die.”