La serp Wititj i ualabi rupestre

Paddy Dhatangu (c. 1915-1993), from the Galwanuk-Liyagalawumirr clan and the Dhuwa moiety, was an expert bark painter with a style that was characteristic of central Arnhem Land. He lived and worked in Milingimbi and Ramingining. Dhatangu's works are made from rectangular pieces of bark and usually have borders at the top and bottom - and occasionally on all four sides - of the compositions. His most outstanding works are those depicting the story of the Wagilag sisters' dreams, although he often painted serpents (clan totems) and rangga (ceremonial poles) too. He generally used four colours - white, black, red and yellow - to draw simple, almost motionless figures with cross hatches, solid colours and dots. Such figures were sometimes concentrated in the space available, squeezed in one against the other. Besides bark painting, Dhatangu also painted on paper and produced painted sculptures.