This sculpture represents a “Warraburnburn” or “ghost spirit,” believed in by the inhabitants of central Arnhem Land. These spirits are embodied by dancers during the final act of a funeral ceremony. The dance serves as a final farewell to the deceased by their family.

These spirits share many traits with humans: like them, they go out as a family to gather food outside their camp. The male spirits fish while their wives gather food.

However, the Warraburnburn are much larger than humans and have supernatural powers.

Artists always cover their bodies in white, one of the characteristics that differentiate them from the Mimih spirits, other spirits in the region.