Dhuwarrwarr Marika facts for kids

Dhuwarrwarr Marika (born 1946), also known as Banuminy, is an important Aboriginal artist. She is a Yolngu artist and a community leader. She comes from East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Dhuwarrwarr belongs to the Rirratjingu clan. She is the daughter of the famous artist Mawalan Marika. Marika is known for her bark painting, carving, mat making, and printmaking.

Early Life and Learning Art

Dhuwarrwarr Marika was born in 1946 in Yirrkala. This area is in the East Arnhem Land of the Northern Territory. She is part of the Rirratjingu people. Their language is called Dhangu.

Her father, Mawalan Marika, was a respected leader. He was also a key person in the Yirrkala bark petitions. These petitions were important documents. They asked the Australian government to protect Aboriginal land rights. Mawalan Marika also started a famous family of artists.

Dhuwarrwarr learned how to paint from her father. This was quite unusual at the time. Usually, only men painted sacred designs. She also learned basketry from her mother and aunt.

When her father became ill, Dhuwarrwarr helped him with his painting. She was allowed to paint sacred designs with him. This was after her father talked with his sons and other elders. After her father passed away, she took a break from painting. Later, she asked her brothers for permission to continue. Many people believe she was the first Yolngu woman to get this special permission. She was allowed to paint sacred designs on her own.

Her Artistic Career

After finishing school, Marika worked as a nurse. She worked in Yirrkala, Darwin, and Sydney. But she later returned home. There, she focused on developing her art skills. Her first recorded paintings were made in the 1970s.

Over time, Dhuwarrwarr became very active in her art. She creates bark paintings, carvings, mats, and prints. Her artwork has been shown in many exhibitions. These shows have been all over the world since the 1980s. Her art has been seen in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

In 2008, she had her first solo exhibition. It was called "Milngurr - Sacred Spring." The show was in Melbourne and all her artworks sold out in just five minutes!

In 1999, Marika worked on a big project. She painted a large film set for the movie Yolngu Boy. She worked with her sisters, Gaymala and Gulumbu Yunupingu. The film set was based on the historic Yirrkala Church Panels.

Marika has also created murals for community buildings. You can see her murals at Yirrkala and Darwin Airport. She also made murals for the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. Another mural is at the Atherton School in Queensland.

Her art style is special. It mixes traditional Rirratjingu sacred designs from her father. She also adds more modern elements to her work. She often uses natural materials. These include earth pigments on stringybark. She also uses earth pigments on hollow poles. She works with pandanus and natural dyes. Sometimes she uses earth pigments on native hibiscus or ironwood. She also creates many prints.

She makes her prints at the Yirrkala Print Space. This is part of the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre. At the print space, she works with other female artists. Dhuwarrwarr believes her art is a way to pass on her culture. She also uses it to share her culture with people from outside her community.

Community Leadership

Dhuwarrwarr Marika is an important leader. She is an executive member of the Northern Land Council. She also represents women on the council.

Her family has always been strong supporters of Indigenous rights. Marika and her family were involved in the Gove Land Rights Case in 1971. This case was very important. It helped lead to the first land rights laws in Australia.

As a respected elder, Marika has been part of many committees. These include local and national groups. In 1993, she was invited to Europe. She spoke at the opening of a big art exhibition. It was called Aratjara - Art of the First Australians.

Where to See Her Art

Dhuwarrwarr Marika's artworks are in many major public collections. You can find her art in museums and galleries around the world.

Some of these places include:

• Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
• Berndt Museum of Anthropology at the University of Western Australia, Perth
• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
• South Australian Museum, Adelaide
• Nahum Gutman Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, UK

Important Exhibitions

Dhuwarrwarr Marika's work has been featured in many significant art shows:

• "The Painters of the Wagilag Sisters Story 1937 - 1997" at the National Gallery of Australia
• "Balnnhdurr - A Lasting Impression" - a touring exhibition
• "Saltwater Country - Bark Paintings from Yirrkala" - a national tour in Australia
• "Milngurr - The Sacred Spring" at the Vivien Anderson Gallery
• Tarnanthi 2019/20 at the Art Gallery of South Australia
• "Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka: Mittji" (2019), at the Hugo Michell Gallery
• "Grey Areas" (2017) Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery NYC

Awards and Recognition

• 1990: Professional Development grant, from the Aboriginal Arts Unit of the Australia Council for the Arts