Thompson Yulidjirri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thompson Yulidjirri
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| Born | c.1930 |
| Died | 1 October 2009 |
| Other names | Yulitjirri |
| Known for | Indigenous Australian art |
Thompson Yulidjirri (1930-2009) was an amazing Aboriginal Australian artist. He belonged to the Kunwinjku people. They live in western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yulidjirri was famous for knowing many ancient stories. He also knew a lot about traditional ceremonies. People admired his painting skills. He was a great teacher for young artists. He worked at the Injalak Arts and Crafts centre.
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Thompson Yulidjirri's Early Life
Thompson Yulidjirri was born in 1930. He grew up on Croker Island. The artist Paddy Compass Namatbara adopted him. This happened after Yulidjirri's parents passed away when he was young. During World War II, Japanese planes attacked. Yulidjirri and Namatbara moved for safety. They went to the coast of the Arafura Sea. He grew up there in north-east Arnhem Land. As a teenager, Yulidjirri worked at a saw mill in Murgenella. He also worked on a barge. This barge delivered supplies to coastal communities from Darwin.
Becoming a Mentor at Injalak Arts
In the early 1990s, Yulidjirri started painting at Injalak Arts. He soon began teaching and guiding young men. While he painted, he would share the stories behind his art. He also taught them his special painting methods. This was very important. The young men he taught were not close family. They were not from his traditional lands. Yet, they learned so much from him. These men later became key artists at the centre.
When Yulidjirri finished a painting, he brought it to Injalak. Many other artists would gather around. They wanted to hear him explain its meaning. Many visitors also tour Injalak Hill. This is an ancient site with rock art nearby. Yulidjirri was one of the first guides there. He shared his knowledge of the rock art. He taught new guides the stories. This helped keep the ancient tales alive.
Thompson Yulidjirri's Art Career
Thompson Yulidjirri started painting at Injalak Arts in the early 1990s. He became a guide for many young artists. He even mentored Gabriel Maralngurra, who started the art center. This shows how much Yulidjirri influenced Injalak Arts. His impact was especially big on artists like Maralngurra.
Yulidjirri's Unique Painting Style
One article describes a painting style as "Yulidjirri mode." This style was popular among his generation. It shows figures with long, detailed arms and legs. They also have mouths shaped like beaks. The style uses a special cross-hatching pattern. This pattern is called rarrk. Using rarrk is linked to the Madayin ceremony. This means the patterns can have hidden meanings. They can tell about the artist's family group. Yulidjirri used rarrk in his art. This helped him mix old traditions with new ideas.
Guiding New Generations of Artists
As younger artists tried new things, some problems came up. Young artists wanted to paint like older painters. But they were only allowed to paint non-sacred images. This made some older artists upset. Yulidjirri helped solve these problems. He worked to bring old traditions and new ideas together. He guided the new artists. The men Yulidjirri taught still follow his traditions. They pass on their skills to even younger artists. The artist Gary Djorlam said, "Old Thompson Yulidjirri is the one who taught us how to paint. He passed it on to his children, even myself and the boys who work here at Injalak. He was the best artist and a storyteller. I'm proud of him, his painting, teaching, and telling all sorts of dreaming stories. Stories about animals, birds, trees, mountains, crocodiles, kangaroos, or even the rainbow serpent."
Exhibitions and Achievements
In 1988, Yulidjirri traveled to Los Angeles. He went for an art show called Dreams and Life. It was at the Caz Gallery in West Hollywood. Yulidjirri and artist Bobby Barrdjaray Nganjmirra painted a huge slate piece. It was over 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide. An American art collector, John W. Kluge, bought it. He later gave it to the University of Virginia in 1997.
In 1997, Yulidjirri was asked to create a rock shelter. This was for the Australian Museum in Sydney. For many years, this artwork was the main display. It showed Indigenous Australian culture.
From 1991 to 1992, Yulidjirri made five artworks on paper. These were for the John W. Kluge Injalak Commission. One famous work was Ngurlmarrk–The Ubarr Ceremony. People loved his art because he didn't care what material he used. The real importance of his art came from the community he built. His art shared stories he had heard. He passed these stories to others. This helped his community grow. He made old traditions feel new and exciting.
In 1995, Paul Raffaele wrote about Yulidjirri. It was a main article in Reader's Digest magazine.
Yulidjirri also worked as a writer and advisor. He helped with two theatre shows: "Mimi" and "Crying Boy." These were by the Stalker/Marrugeku Theatre Company. This group toured around the world. They performed with Injalak traditional dancers. Yulidjirri's posters and images were in many magazines. These included Qantas magazine's "I still call Australia home" campaign. His work was also in Reader's Digest in 1998. Yulidjirri was very successful in painting. His art is in important collections. He was a finalist for the NATSIAA many times. His art also hangs in Darwin Airport.
Thompson Yulidjirri's Famous Works
One important artwork by Thompson Yulidjirri is Ngurlmarrk--The Ubarr Ceremony. He painted it in 1991. John Kluge bought this piece. The story of the Ubarr ceremony began with an old hunter and magician. His name was Yirrbardbard. He planned to harm his wife and mother-in-law. In a cave in Gunbalanya, Yirrbardbard drew on the walls. He drew his wife and mother-in-law. A snake was shown striking at their feet. Then, he turned into a snake himself. He did this to carry out his plan. Afterward, he decided to create a ceremony. This ceremony would honor his actions. He named Nadlumi the kangaroo to be the keeper of the Ubarr ceremony. In this painting, Yulidjirri shows the ancient snake and kangaroo. He also shows how the ceremony is done today. This artwork mixes the past and present. It combines spiritual and everyday life. He uses rarrk to bring it all together.
Black Crow and the Fish Trap
Another work by Thompson Yulidjirri is Black Crow and the Fish Trap. Yulidjirri painted this from a story. Another painter, Midjawmidjaw, taught it to him. In the story, the Black Crow made a fish trap. When the Black Crow went to sleep, some people came. They took the trap. They wanted to catch fish in the river. When the Black Crow woke up, he found out. He was very angry. In his rage, he cut down a paperbark tree. When it fell, it split Goulburn Island in two. Now, there is North Goulburn and South Goulburn. On the island, you will never see a black crow catching or eating fish. Only other birds do this. In the painting, there is a large fishing net. Yulidjirri used rarrk to show the net's weaving. Next to the net is a human. This person eventually steals the net in the story. The Black Crow is shown above him.
Prints and Ancestral Figures
Besides rock art and paper, Yulidjirri also made prints. One special print is based on rock art near Gunbalanya. In this print, he shows Yingana. She is an important ancestral figure. Yingana is a key part of the Kunwinjku culture. She created the Aboriginal people. In her story, Yingana came from the Arafura Sea. She carried dillybags full of yams. As she traveled, she planted yams. She also scattered spirit children around. She gave them all different languages and cultures. These children became the first members of today's clans.
Where to See Thompson Yulidjirri's Art
