14/08/2025
Another piece of artwork completed with more than 30+ hours of work 🥰
Maali wer Kooldjak -
In the dreaming (Koondarm), long ago (Koora Koora), the Swan (Maali) was so beautiful (Kwobidak), she is white (jardak) with a grey (djendal) beak and moves through the water (kep) so elegantly that all birds was saying she is so elegant and graceful of all the birds made.
Maali was so proud that she boasted she was the most beautiful of all the birds. Eagle (Waalitji) heard her boasting all the time about how beautiful (Kwobidak), and elegant she was. Eagle (Waalitji) become angry(karang) with hearing Swan (Maali) boastfulness and became very envious of her beauty (Kwobidak), she began plucking Swans (Maali) feathers from her, Swan(Maali) tried to fight off Eagle (Waalitji) but Eagle (Waalitji) would fly high into the sky (worl) then back again, Eagle became tired and flew away leaving Swan (Maali) to die alone beside the river (bilya). The Crow (Waardong) was pecking around the river for food and found Swan (Maali) dying, Crow (Waardong) covered Swan (Maali) with his black (moorn) feathers and gave her all his strength and protection.
Eventually Swan (Kooldjak) grew strong and now wears her black feathers with pride, her beak is now red to remind her of the bloody attack from the Eagle (Waalitji) because of his envy. Swan (Kooldjak) still had a few white feathers under her wing to remind her of who she used to be. Swan (Kooldjak) will always be grateful to Crow (Waardong) for sharing his strength and protection to help her live. Swan (Kooldjak) always see Crow (Waardong) beside the Biya searching for food.
Transformation and Gratitude of the Swan
The story of the Swan (Maali) and the Eagle (Waalitji) conveys important cultural values such as humility, resilience, and gratitude. Initially, the Swan's pride in her beauty leads to her downfall when the envious Eagle attacks her. This symbolizes the dangers of vanity and arrogance. The intervention of the Crow (Waardong), who saves and strengthens the Swan, highlights the value of community support and mutual aid. The Swan's transformation, marked by her black feathers and red beak, serves as a reminder of her experience and the gratitude she feels towards the Crow (Waardong).
Medium-Acrylic on stretched canvas
Currently for sale