This painting tells the story about two boys that went hunting for black fruit. While they were picking the fruit along came a ghost who had the shape of an old man and he told them he was their grandfather, so they were not scared and let him get close to them. He told them there is a special tree with good black fruit and that he would show them where to find it. While they were walking he grabbed the little one and put him in a dilly bag, the older one quickly got a shell before he also was snatched into the bag. The ghost put the bag high up in the black fruit tree where they wouldn't be found & left them so that he could prepare the fire with ant bed to cook the boys for his dinner. The boys tricked him by telling him that there was better ant wood in the east so that he went away further. When he was gone the older boy quickly used the shell to cut through the dilly bag fibres & break free. They ran home to their families and told them the story of how they escaped the ghost & the dilly bag. Growing up the old people always used to us this story when we were hunting for black fruit - they would say remember the ghost and don't go too far or he will grab you! As told by Meredith Arkwookerum. |
Artist: Meredith Arkwookerum |
Acrylic on linen, 61cm x91cm |
Price includes postage anywhere within Australia |