Mithinarri Gurruwiwi facts for kids

Mithinarri Gurruwiwi (born around 1929 – died 1976) was an important Aboriginal Australian painter. He belonged to the Gälpu clan of the Yolŋu people. The Yolngu live in north-eastern Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory. His name is sometimes spelled Midinari, Mitinari, or Mithinari.

Life Story of Mithinarri Gurruwiwi

Mithinarri Gurruwiwi was born in 1929 in the Blue Mud Bay area. This region is part of North-east Arnhem Land. He was a member of the Gälpu clan and the Dhuwa side of the Yolngu people. The Gälpu clan is well-known for playing the didgeridoo, called yidaki. Besides Yirrkala, Gälpu people also live in places like Galiwinku, Goulburn Island, Gunyungarra, Gangan, and Galupa.

Learning to Paint

Mithinarri began painting when he was a young man. He learned from a group of Dhuwa artists. These artists included famous painters like Larrtjannga Ganambarr and Wandjuk Marika. Their teacher was Mawalan Marika, Wandjuk's father. Mawalan was a master of bark painting. They learned at a place called Beach Camp in Yirrkala, Arnhem Land.

People often described Mithinarri as a unique person. He usually camped a little away from others in his community. However, his children were often with him. He also liked to paint on the beach. He would set up a simple shade using palm fronds stuck in the sand.

Famous Church Panels

Mithinarri had a very successful career as an artist. His artworks were shown in many important exhibitions. They are also part of major art collections around the world. He was one of the artists who painted the famous 1962 Yirrkala Church panels. Other well-known artists on this project included Mathaman Marika and his brother Mawalan Marika. These panels are now kept at the Buku-Larrnggay Museum.

Mithinarri also had children who became artists. His daughter, Djul’tjul, was a painter. His son, Gurrukmungu Gurruwiwi, is also a respected artist. Gurrukmungu is known for his paintings and carvings. Mithinarri passed away in 1976 when he was 45 years old.

Mithinarri's Art Career

Mithinarri was a very active and passionate artist. Many Aboriginal artists started using European paintbrushes. But Mithinarri kept using traditional brushes. He made them from frayed stringy bark for background colors. He also used them for the main parts of his paintings. He created fine details with brushes made from human hair or palm fronds.

Mithinarri was very skilled and worked quickly. This allowed him to create large paintings. He was great at changing his designs to fit the size of the bark. Examples include his works like Djaykung (File snakes) from around 1960. Another is Wuyal the Honey Man, also from around 1960.

Painting Style and Subjects

Mithinarri often painted subjects like Wild Cabbage and the Wagilag Sisters Myth. He also painted the Rainbow Serpent and snakes. He used natural earth pigments on Eucalyptus bark. His paintings often showed repeated patterns. These patterns suggest the rhythms of traditional ceremonies.

Mithinarri's art had many different forms. Yet, all his works shared a clear style. His paintings often blended real figures with geometric clan designs. This created a smooth, flowing artwork. Some of his paintings, however, had a more distinct style. For example, his paintings of Garrimala were full of life. They showed a rich inland lake with snakes, birds, and fish among waterlilies. In other works, he made the figures almost abstract. Here, he put all his energy and feeling into the design itself.

Exhibitions and Collections

Mithinarri was most active in the 1960s. He was one of the artists who worked on the 1962 Yirrkala church panels. Around this time, he also painted many large bark artworks for collector Dr. Stuart Scougall. Mithinarri's art became known around the world. It was shown in major international exhibitions. These included 'Australian Aboriginal Art' in Chicago in 1972. Another was 'Aratjara – Art of the First Australians' in Europe in 1993–94.

Mithinarri Gurruwiwi's art is found in all Australian state art galleries. It is also part of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection in the United States.

Important Art Collections

Mithinarri's artwork is in many famous collections. The 1962 Yirrkala Church panels are among his most important works. These were two four-meter-long artworks. Eight artists from the two main Yolngu groups, Yirritja and Dhuwa, painted them. They were meant for a new Methodist church.

The panels were painted with earth pigments. They did not show any Christian images. Instead, they focused on balancing Christian spirituality with Yolngu beliefs. The church decided not to install them. But they were saved in 1978. They were then brought to the new Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre.

Gurruwiwi's work can be seen in many well-known collections:

• Westpac Gallery
• Design Warehouse Sydney
• R. H. Lowie Museum of Anthropology

Major Exhibitions

Gurruwiwi's art has been shown in exhibitions worldwide. These include universities, museums, and art galleries. They have featured his most famous works alongside other Aboriginal artists. His art has been displayed across Australia, in Paris, and at the University of Virginia. It continues to be available to the public in major collections. All Australian state galleries feature his paintings. His art can also be seen in the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection in the United States.

Here are some of the exhibitions where his work was shown:

• Art of Arnhem Land, David Jones, Sydney. 1963
• 'The Melbourne Moomba Festival, Exhibition of Aboriginal Art', Melbourne. 1963
• 'Australie, Osobnost Primitivni'ho Malire', Prague. 1969
• 'Australian Aboriginal Art', University of California, Berkeley. 1969
• 'Australian Aboriginal Art', Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. 1972
• 'The Art of Aboriginal Australia', North American Tour. 1974-76
• 'Aboriginal Art', Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra. 1984
• 'Ancestors and Spirits', National Gallery of Australia. 1987
• 'ARATJARA, Art of the First Australians', Düsseldorf, London, and Humlebaek. 1993/4
• 'Yirrkala Artists: Everywhen', Art Gallery of Western Australia. 2009
• Old Masters Exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia.