Garry Djorlom Mimi with dillybag, walking stick, flighting stick 31x21cm WOP8

Mimi with dillybag, walking stick, fighting stick by Garry Djorlom, from Oenpelli (Gunbalanya) in Western Arnhem Land, is a classic and authoritative depiction of the Mimi spirit beings.

The Mimi are ancient spirit figures of Arnhem Land lore—tall, elongated and extraordinarily thin, so fragile they are said to sway dangerously in strong winds. For protection, they inhabit the narrow crevices of rocky escarpments, emerging only when conditions are calm. Their elegance and otherworldly presence have made them enduring subjects in both rock art and contemporary painting.

According to tradition, the Mimi predate human occupation of the land. In their earlier existence, they lived in human form and possessed profound knowledge. When Aboriginal people arrived in northern Australia, it was the Mimi who taught them how to hunt, prepare and cook animals, how to control and use fire, and how to paint. Through these teachings, the Mimi passed on both practical survival skills and cultural knowledge, embedding art and storytelling into daily life.

Some of the earliest known depictions of Mimi spirits appear in rock paintings at sites such as Nourlangie Rock, within Kakadu National Park, dating back tens of thousands of years. These images attest to the Mimi’s central role in Arnhem Land cosmology and their enduring presence in cultural memory.

In Djorlom’s painting, the Mimi is shown carrying a dillybag, walking stick and fighting stick—objects that anchor this ethereal being to human activity and knowledge. The work bridges the spiritual and the earthly, reminding us that the Mimi are not distant mythical figures, but teachers whose legacy continues to shape cultural practice, art and survival in Arnhem Land today.