21st Century Australian Aboriginal Painted Branches

View Similar Items

Australian Aboriginal Painted Totem Pole from Elcho Island

Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint

Australian Aboriginal Carved and Painted Spear from Melville Island

Australian Aboriginal Yawkyawk Fiber Sculpture

Tribal Aboriginal Australian Ritual Sculpture

American Contemporary Anodized and Gold Painted Iron Sculpture, 21st Century

21st Century Spanish Painted Unglazed Porcelain Sculpture 'Creating' by Lladró

Australian Aboriginal Painting on Hollow Log

Carved Wood Aboriginal Shield, Western Australia

21st Century Sculpture, Chimère by Adrien Coroller

Handmade 21st century brass OHO sculptural centrepiece

1 of 7

21st Century Australian Aboriginal Painted Branches

About the Item

An exquisite pair of finely painted 'mimih spirits' from Australia, which include metal stands. Aboriginal people in the rocky environments of western and south-western Arnhem Land tell of the existence of tall slender spirits which they call Mimih. The name Mimih is well known throughout the top end of the Northern Territory. Aboriginal groups living in the rocky environments of western and southern Arnhem Land share mythology that relates to the beings known as Mimih. These groups include the Kunwok chain of languages, and also Rembarrnga, Dalabon and Djawoyn language groups. Other groups of people with familial and ceremonial links to rock country inhabitants are also familiar with the idea of the Mimih. In recent years the Mimih has become a topic in the repertoires of some artists among the Kunibídji people, speakers of the Ndjébbana language and the traditional landowners of the Maningrida area. The people of western Arnhem Land believe that Mimih spirits live in a social organisation similar to Aboriginal people and that Mimih society existed before humans. Mimih are credited with instructing the first people with knowledge relating to survival in the rocky environment of the Arnhem Land plateau. Mimih are said to have taught the first humans how to hunt and butcher game and also how to dance, sing and paint. The song and dance style of western Arnhem Land Aboriginal people is still known today as Mimih style. This term is also used by Aboriginal people further to the east in Central Arnhem Land when describing the dance and song of their western neighbours. They live in families like humans and it is said that some of these Aboriginal men with mystical knowledge have spent time living with them in their camps. Mimih are however, terribly thin, having necks so slender that a stiff breeze would be fatal. For this reason they emerge only on windless days and nights to hunt. As soon as a breeze develops, the Mimih are said to run back to their rocky caverns and disappear inside. Smaller piece 154 cm high.

Creator:
Paul Nabulumo Namarinjmak (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 78.75 in (200 cm)Diameter: 1.97 in (5 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Modern (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Acrylic,Woodwork
Place of Origin:
Australia
Period:
21st Century
Date of Manufacture:
2015
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: f136821510133238063fs