John Mawurndjul:

two ways

at Maningrida they never stopped climbing
trees found a way to keep mardayin
ceremony but some were taken too unscroll
bark canvas work with fire smell thick
in air on walls Ngalyod rainbow
serpent bodies coiled together power
in its bones these words are better poetry
all I know is only written but country
holds story too hawks carrying fire
etched onto lorrkkon no bones inside
shimmer light in dark the old and the new

Installation view, John Mawurndjul: I am the old and the new
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, image courtesy and © the artist
Image credit: Jessica Maurer