Crusoe Kurddal facts for kids

Crusoe Kurddal (born around 1960 or 1961, died 2020) was an amazing Aboriginal Australian artist. He was famous for his unique sculptures of Mimih and Yawkyawk spirits. He was also an actor!

About Crusoe Kurddal

Crusoe Kurddal was an artist, dancer, singer, and actor. He lived and worked in Maningrida. This is an Aboriginal community in central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Crusoe was well-known for his Mimih spirit sculptures. He learned to create these figures from his father, Crusoe Kuningbal. Mimih are tall, thin spirits that live in the rocky areas of Arnhem Land. His brother, Owen Yalandja, also made Mimih sculptures.

Later, Crusoe also started making sculptures of Yawkyawk figures. He made these for special ceremonies and to sell. Besides being an artist, Crusoe was also an actor. He starred in the 2006 movie Ten Canoes.

Crusoe's Art Journey

Crusoe Kurddal began his art career by focusing on Mimih spirits. These spirits are from the rock country around Maningrida. People have told stories about Mimih for many years. But making sculptures of them is a newer art form.

Mimih are believed to be long, skinny beings. They live and move within the cracks of rocks. Mimih sculptures are usually carved from thin, soft tree trunks. Their body shapes often have a funny look because of the stories about them.

Traditionally, Mimih art used special rarrk designs. But Crusoe's father used small dots instead. He taught this style to his sons.

From Mimih to Yawkyawk

Later, Crusoe Kurddal started sculpting Yawkyawk figures. Yawkyawks are like mermaids. They have the head of a woman and the body of a fish. He carved these sculptures from wooden poles.

Crusoe switched to Yawkyawk figures for a good reason. He thought they were easier for people who were not Indigenous to understand. His earlier works showed sacred ceremonial art.

Family's Artistic Influence

Crusoe Kurddal's father, Crusoe Kuningbul, greatly influenced his art. His father was born near the Middle Liverpool River. After World War II, he moved to Maningrida. There, he began painting on bark.

He later settled in Barrihdjowkkeng. This is where he raised Crusoe and his brothers, Owen Yalandja and Tim Wulanibirr. Crusoe's father was a very active artist. He created Mimih spirits in sculptures and bark paintings.

The Mimih spirits are slim and tall. They live among the rocks of the Arnhem Land plateau. People say these spirits come out at night. They move through rock cracks to protect the land. They might even appear to hunters. Sometimes, they can trick hunters into their rocky world. Then they disappear quickly.

Many rock paintings in the region show Mimih spirits. Some people believe the Mimih themselves painted this art. They did it to show how they lived.

Crusoe's father was the first artist in Maningrida to make Mimih sculptures. He did this from the 1960s to the 1980s. He created these figures from 1968 until he passed away in 1984.

Crusoe's father also performed traditional dances and songs. Sometimes, he danced with his Mimih sculptures. This happened in special Kuninjku trade ceremonies called Mamurrng. These sculptures were made just for these events.

After his father's death, Crusoe and his brother Owen Yalandja continued his work. They inherited the right to create Mimih sculptures. Owen Yalandja is also famous for his wood carvings. He is known for his painted designs of Yawkyawk. Owen first carved Yawkyawk at a waterhole in Barridjohwkeng. He tried different carving methods. This allowed him to make Yawkyawk figures of many sizes. He used scaly textures to show fish features.

Crusoe focused on creating Mimih spirits. He learned to carve them like his father. But he also developed his own unique style. At first, he used his father's red base color and dot patterns. In the mid-1980s, Crusoe was inspired to make bigger sculptures. These were much larger than his father's. Today, huge Mimih sculptures are in many public art collections.

Many Kuninjku people started carving similar figures in the late 1980s. But Owen Yalandja and Crusoe Kurddal were the most important artists. Crusoe's 1985 sculpture, Mimih Spirit, shows his father's influence.

Later, Crusoe started using the natural shapes of tree trunks. This helped him create more curved pieces. An example is Mimih Spirit (2007). He also used tree forks to make "two-headed" Mimih. These looked like one spirit sitting on top of another.

Crusoe was a talented dancer. He wanted to show the playful side of these spirits. He did this through his movements and sculptures. Thanks to Crusoe's ideas, these carving techniques are now popular. Many Kuninjku artists use them.

Crusoe's Artistic Legacy

Crusoe Kurddal, his father Crusoe Kuningbal, and his brother Owen Yalandja were pioneers. They were among the first to create Mimih sculptures. Their artwork influenced many Aboriginal artists who came after them.

Since the 1980s, other Kuninjku people have made similar figures. This is because of Kuningbal and his sons. However, Kurddal and Yalandja made the most new and exciting changes. Today, many Kuninjku art shows display a "little forest" of Mimih. These shows highlight the new painting styles of younger artists.

Art Sales

Crusoe Kurddal was known for making traditional items. He also worked with oils and acrylics. Since 1999, 18 of his artworks have been sold at auction. Eleven of these, or 61%, were successfully bought.

His artwork A Pair of Mimih Spirits sold for $9,000 in March 2010. This was the highest price recorded for his work. It was sold by Deutscher and Hackett. Crusoe's pieces are also held in important collections. These include the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Acting Roles

Crusoe Kurddal was a master woodcarver. But he was also a popular actor in Australian films. In 2006, Crusoe Kurddal played the main character, Ridjimiraril, in Rolf de Heer's Ten Canoes.

This was the first movie filmed entirely in Australian Aboriginal languages. It is a moral story set in Arnhem Land. Ten Canoes was highly praised. It won Best Film at the Australian Film Institute Awards. It also won a special jury prize at the 2006 Festival de Cannes.

Ten Canoes tells an adventure story about forbidden love. It is set in Australian Arnhem Land. A narrator tells a story about his ancestors during a hunt. He describes a great warrior and tribal chief named Ridjimiraril. Ridjimiraril (played by Crusoe Kurddal) had three wives. One was jealous, one was clever, and one was beautiful.

The story tells how one of Ridjimiraril's wives disappears. He thinks a visitor has taken her. He decides to get revenge and save his wife. The story then follows his journey. Besides Ten Canoes, Crusoe Kurddal also acted in the movies Australia and Mad Max: Fury Road. He was also a musician. He acted and created music for the drama The Sleeping Warrior.

Art Collections

Crusoe Kurddal's artworks are part of several important collections:

• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Gold Coast City Art Gallery
• Museum D'Histoire Naturelle de Lyon, France
• National Gallery of Victoria

Important Exhibitions

Crusoe Kurddal's art has been shown in major exhibitions:

• 1996-97: Gamarada. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
• 1999-00: Another Country. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
• 2004: Crossing Country: The Alchemy of Western Arnhem Land Art. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
• 2008-09: Country Culture Community (2008-09). Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.

Death

Crusoe Kurddal passed away in 2020.