MARRNGU, THE OPOSSUM, c.1964
NARRITJIN MAYMURU
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
48.0 x 24.5 cm
Collected in the Yirrakala region of North-East Arnhemland
Collection of James Davidson, Melbourne
Private collection, Melbourne
Diidja was born at the end of the nineteenth century in the country known as Godwaiwali at the headwaters of the East Alligator River. As a young man he lived for some years at Beswick Creek. He later works on a peanut farm near Katherine and then at a time near the township of Pine Creek.
During the war years, he laboured for the military at Pine Creek. After the war he worked on Goodparla Cattle Station mustering bullocks. He retired to various bush locations in the Alligator River region of Western Arnhem Land where he produced bark paintings of spirit figures and mythological beings.