This artwork by Paddy Fordham Wainburranga is titled ‘Too Many Captain Cooks’ and tells the story of Badaparr, the custodian of the country who is likened to Captain James Cook, the explorer. Badaparr and the devil Lungi Ngyan (Ngayang Lunji) fought and the body of the devil was thrown, creating Sydney Harbour.
The title of the painting comes from Paddy Wainburranga’s belief that Australia has had many Captain Cook – like figures, both cultural and spiritual, in its history. In his explanation of the work, Wainburranga explains that the Captain Cook who he refers to is not just the explorer Captain Cook. Rather, the Rembarrnga people have had many Captain Cooks in their history but, it was only the explorer Captain Cook who brought over families who started to shoot Aboriginal people and change their lifestyle with material possessions.
The painting is divided into two sections and depicts the history of Australia from the Rembarrnga perspective.
The top section depicts a cultural and spiritual kind invading Australia. The custodian of Australia, a white man named Badaparr, is featured with a sword in his left hand. Badaparr is representative of the Mungingya (white) Captain Cook. Two women named Wamutjan and Galajan are depicted near Badaparr; one of the women is white and the other is black. The women represent Badaparr’s wives. The clothes that appear hanging on a clothes line suggest that Badaparr was served well by his wives. The donkey and goat heads depicted in the painting indicate the nature of the work performed around the campsite and the milk and meat that were provided there.
The bottom section features the image of the devil named Lungi Ngyan holding a magic bone. A flying seagull named Mudaka represents the existence of an island called Mosquito Island, known as the home of the Devil.
Collection of Australian Maritime Museum
Drinking in the Cemetery 