Lot 35

The work is in overall good condition consistent with age. All markings and textures appear inherent with artist's style, technique and medium and are likely from the time of creation.This work is unstretched.


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Minymaku Arts, Amata, South Australia (accompanied by the certificate of authenticity)
Private collection, Adelaide

"This painting tells the Creation Time story of the caterpillars - anumara. The anumara is a large edible caterpillar with a hook on its tail. It is a story about kinship groups - represented by the North and the South. Hector is in one group - the South - (anumara) and his uncles, nephews, and fathers in the other (North - the other caterpillars - muya muya and ngalyakanti, literally "hard forehead".) All the caterpillars travelled from places in the north and the south (the circles at the edges of the painting), and all met up in one resting place (ngura) (the bottom center circle). The other central circles represent the minyma (women) and tjitji (children). When they arrive, the women dance in the fire and give the man the ceremonial stick. This is a beautiful ceremony, which Hector went through, long ago. This ceremony was not performed for a long time, until more recently, when men from Amata took part. It is
important that these ceremonies are kept going."

As stated on the Minymaku Arts certificate of authenticity

© Hector Burton/Copyright Agency, 2026