Feature Artwork: Thuwathu’s Trail, John Williams

This painting is about Thuwathu, the Rainbow Serpent and the trail he left and his resting place. After his sister burnt his humpy with him inside it, he rolled about in pain starting from Dugong River and creating story places as he went, he transformed the land, rivers, creeks, swamps, hills, reefs, fresh water holes and springs. His final resting place is at Wirrija where there is a rock bed of colours red, yellow and white. Here at this country don’t ever mix land food and sea food together or enter the salt water with greasy hand always wash your hands otherwise you mulgari - our people believe this spirit of the Rainbow Serpent will enter one’s body and you get really sick and Song Man would have to sing it out.

John Williams