Gumap and Gudbru
Brett Nannup artist
Cultural narrative shared by Barry McGuire
At over 3.4 meters tall and weighing around 350kg, ‘Gumap and Gudbru’ is a unique sculpture created by Noongar printmaker Brett Nannup from the cultural narrative shared by Barry McGuire of the two seal brothers.
Twisted together, the two Kylee (boomerang) shapes of the sculpture mimic the two seal brothers Gumap and Gudbru moving in play. The curved shape of the Kylee is unique to the southwest, with the designs of country embedded into the front side of the Kylee with a lineal carved design to the other side.
The two tones (front and reverse side) of the Kylee represents the contrast of light, the light of the moon, and the darkness of the sky. It also represents day and night and our moieties/marriage systems through the duality of black and white.
In song and ceremony, Kylees continue to be used as percussion instruments for the Noongar people, linking their Dreaming from the past, to the ever present, and beyond into the future.
The circular plinth represents the Boodja, the land of the Noongar people. The shield zig-zag pattern designs within the circular plinth symbolises the protection of country and land through the passing down of knowledge through story, song, and dance.