Dhuwarrwarr Marika facts for kids

Dhuwarrwarr Marika, also known as Banuminy, is a famous Aboriginal artist from Australia. She was born in 1946. She is a leader in her community, the Yolngu people, who live in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Dhuwarrwarr is part of the Rirratjingu clan and the Dhuwa moiety. Her father was Mawalan Marika. She is known for her amazing bark paintings, carvings, mat making, and printmaking.

Early Life and Art

Dhuwarrwarr Marika was born in 1946 in a place called Yirrkala. This area is in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. She belongs to the Rirratjingu people, and their language is Dhangu.

Learning from Her Family

Dhuwarrwarr's father, Mawalan Marika, was a very important leader of the Rirratjingu people. He was also a famous artist and started the Marika family's artistic tradition. Dhuwarrwarr learned how to paint from her father. This was quite unusual at the time because painting sacred designs was mostly done by men.

She also learned how to make baskets from her mother and aunts. As her father got older and his health wasn't as good, he allowed Dhuwarrwarr to help him with his paintings. After talking with his sons and other elders, Dhuwarrwarr was given special permission to paint alongside her father, even using sacred designs.

After her father passed away, Dhuwarrwarr took a break from painting. When she wanted to start again, she asked her brothers for their permission. Many people, including Dhuwarrwarr herself, believe she was the first Yolngu woman allowed to paint sacred designs on her own.

Her Artistic Journey

After finishing school, Dhuwarrwarr Marika worked as a nurse in different cities like Yirrkala, Darwin, and Sydney. But she eventually returned home and focused on developing her artistic skills. Her first recorded paintings were made in the 1970s.

Growing as an Artist

Over time, Dhuwarrwarr became very active in different art forms. She created bark paintings, carvings, mats, and prints. Her artwork has been shown in many group exhibitions around the world since the 1980s. These shows took place in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

She also had one solo exhibition, which means it was just her art on display. This show was called "Milngurr - Sacred Spring" and was held in Melbourne in 2008. All her artworks sold out in just five minutes!

Art for Films and Buildings

In 1999, Dhuwarrwarr worked with her sisters, Gaymala and Gulumbu Yunupingu. They painted a large film set for a movie called Yolngu Boy. This set was based on the historic Yirrkala Church Panels.

Marika has also created large paintings, called murals, for community buildings in Yirrkala. Her murals can also be seen at Darwin Airport, the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, and the Atherton School in Queensland.

Her Unique Art Style

Dhuwarrwarr's art style mixes traditional Rirratjingu sacred designs from her father with more modern ideas. She often uses natural earth pigments on materials like stringybark, hollow stringybark poles, and pandanus. She also uses natural dyes and paints on native hibiscus and ironwood. She is also a talented printmaker.

She has made many prints at the Yirrkala Print Space, which is part of the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre. Dhuwarrwarr works with other female artists there. She sees her art as a way to pass on her culture to younger generations. It's also a way to share her culture with people from all over the world.

Community Leadership

Dhuwarrwarr Marika is an important member of the Northern Land Council. She represents women on its executive committee. She and her family have always been strong supporters of Indigenous rights. They were involved in the Gove Land Rights Case in 1971. This important case eventually led to the first laws about Indigenous land rights in Australia being passed in Australia.

As a respected elder for her people, Dhuwarrwarr has been part of many local and national groups. In 1993, she was invited to Europe to speak at the opening of a big art exhibition. This exhibition was called Aratjara - Art of the First Australians.

Art Collections and Exhibitions

Dhuwarrwarr Marika's artwork is held in major public art collections around the world.

Public Collections

• 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
• Australian Capital Equity Collection, Perth
• Nahum Gutman Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, UK
• Kerry Packer Collection
• Kelton Foundation Collection, Santa Monica, USA

Notable Exhibitions

• "The Painters of the Wagilag Sisters Story 1937 - 1997" at the National Gallery of Australia
• "Balnnhdurr - A Lasting Impression" - 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: She received a Professional Development grant from the Aboriginal Arts Unit of the Australia Council for the Arts.