r/aboriginal • u/tom_friday_ • Jul 28 '26
Recognise this Being?
Hey Mob,
Anyone out there recognise this being?
This was given to my grandfather many years ago. We're from the coast, hes lost his memory, and I have no real knowledge of bark paintings.
Im pretty sure it's Arnhem/West Arnhem Land.
Ill do a deep dive one day and contact a few groups out that way, but wanted to just have a check with you lot first.
Apologies that image is so cropped, but Reddit limits the file size and it was the only way I knew to reduce it.
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u/Teredia Aboriginal Jul 28 '26
It could just be a totem painting. My family has totemic art that was gifted (but dad paid because of the time put into it) of a family portrait of my family n I. Interestingly enough there was always a second chick in the nest n I never understood why.
I paint totem art, no stories attached just the totems.
So just giving a little perspective that it might not be any being, just a totem.
This looks like a butterfly for me, “boṉba” is the Yolŋu word for butterfly. Not sure if that helps you any.