Barramundi Aboriginal Canvas Print

Aboriginal Canvas Print 

Barramundi Dreaming

The Barramundi Dreaming is a sacred and powerful story held by the East Kimberley peoples of Northern Australia. The word “Barramundi” comes from an Aboriginal language meaning “large-scaled silver fish.”

At its heart, this Dreaming is a tale of forbidden love — a dramatic, timeless story filled with romance, struggle, and transformation.

Long ago, a young man and an older woman fell deeply in love. However, within their tribal customs, their union was forbidden. Both were promised to others, and the difference in their ages defied tradition. Despite the taboos, their love could not be denied. Determined to be together, they fled into the wild together, choosing love over law.

Their escape set off a pursuit. Tribal elders, bound to uphold tradition, chased them across rugged lands — over red deserts, rolling hills, and flowing rivers. For weeks, the couple ran until they reached the edge of the continent, where the cliffs meet the ocean — their final refuge.

Here, the lovers made their last stand. Spears flew. Stones were hurled. Though outnumbered, they fought side by side with all their strength and love. But knowing they would not survive, they made a final, brave choice. Holding hands, they leapt from the cliffs into the deep ocean below — into the realm of sharks and crocodiles — to escape a life apart.

Bimia, the great spirit, watched their courage and was moved by the depth of their love. In compassion, he transformed them into Barramundi, fish who would be eternally together.

This transformation holds meaning in the fish’s life cycle. All barramundi are born male. After several years, they become female — and only then do they breed. This means that younger males always seek out and court older females. Just like the lovers of the Dreaming, they are destined to come together, never to be separated.

This story also teaches that where barramundi live, sharks and crocodiles are never far behind — a reminder of the perils the lovers faced and the places they now inhabit.

In the artwork, cross-hatching patterns represent the traditional fishing nets made by our people from spinifex and reeds — used to catch the barramundi. It is said that when the lovers leapt into the sea, their silvery scales scattered and scraped across the nets. These scales, legend tells us, became the sparkling diamonds scattered throughout the Northern Territory.

In the painting:

• Large barramundi represent the older, egg-carrying females.

• Smaller barramundi, marked with a white stripe across the head, symbolize the juvenile males.

• White, spiked fins evoke the spears thrown during the lovers’ last stand.

Barramundi are not only sacred but powerful symbols of passion. Some tribes refer to them as the “Passion Fish.” Rich in omega-3 oils, they have long been valued for supporting the brain and body — a true gift from the sea and spirit.