Artist: David Dunn
Born:
1964
Language:
WIRADJURI-ENGLISH
Country:
Wiradjuri Nation
Area:
Trangie
 
Creation of the Murray River
 

This painting depicts the creation of the Murray River by a gigantic Murray cod fleeing down a small creek to escape from a renowned hunter. In these myths, the fleeing Murray cod enlarges the river and the beating of its tail create the bends in it. The cod is eventually speared near the terminus of the Murray River, chopped into pieces, and the pieces thrown back into the river. The pieces become all the other fish species of the river. The cod's head is kept intact, told to "keep being Murray cod", and also thrown back into the river.The three circles joined by squiggly lines represent my signature and the three rivers of the "Wiradjuri Nation", The Wambool (Macquarie), Kalar (Lachlan) and Murrumbidgerie (Murrumbidgee).©