John Williams “Rat & Squid” original acrylic on canvas 50cm×40cm

Description

Mornington Island Art

Artist John Williams  

Born: 1958 

Language: Lardil 

Origin: Birri, Mornington Island 

Code 250-21 

Title: Rat And Squid 

Created: 2021 

Dimensions: 50 x 40 cm 

Mediums: Acrylic on Canvas

“Long time ago the rat lived on Rocky Island. He was swimming over to Birri to sit down on this sand hill and a great big squid came  swimming by. And the Squid looked up and said, “Rat, you look sad.” The Rat said, “Yeah I want to swim over to that island, but  can’t because my tail is too short.” So the Squid said to the Rat, “Jump on my back and I’ll take you.” The Rat jumped onto the  Squid’s back and as they were going over the Rat was laughing. The two of them got to Birri and they went up onto the sand and  made fire. The Squid asked the Rat , “What was you laughing at me for?” And the Rat replied, “Your teeth was too big.” The Rat got  angry. The Squid picked up a spear and speared the Rat up the behind. So the Rat picked up a fire stick and hit the Squid up the  behind. The Squid ran down to the beach and jumped into the water and let out black ink everywhere. That’s why the Rat has a  long tail and Squid lets out black ink.”