Description

The artist Laurie Marburduk has depicted the hives of native honeybees and the honey they produce. The honey is represented by the dotted motif which is characteristic of the way honey is depicted in all Arnhem Land painting, including ancient rock art.

Wild honey, called woma in Burarra language, is produced by a number of species of native sting less honeybees of the [Genus Trigona]. Some make their hives in trees, some in the ground, especially in the side of creek banks and others make their hives inside rock crevices. This painting depicts hives inside trees. The painting also has a more esoteric meaning which is considered secret and not to be revealed to those not initiated into the Duwa patrimoiety regional ceremony to which the design and dreaming belongs.