Wukun Wanambi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wukun Wanambi
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Wanambi in 2019
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| Born | 1962 Gurka'wuy, East Arnhem NT, Australia
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| Died | 4 May 2022 (aged 59–60) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Artist |
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Wukun Wanambi (born in 1962 – died on May 4, 2022) was an Australian artist. He was a Yolngu painter, filmmaker, and a curator from the Marrakulu clan. His family lived in northeastern Arnhem Land.
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About Wukun Wanambi
Wukun Wanambi was born in Gurka'wuy. He was the oldest son in his family. His father, Mithili Wanambi, was a respected leader and a famous painter. Even though Wukun came from a family of artists, he wanted to be a politician when he was young.
In 1981, his father Mithili passed away. After this, some special clan designs could not be painted anymore. This was because no one had the right to paint them. It was not until 1997 that the Djunggayi (who are caretakers of clan knowledge) taught Wukun these designs.
Wukun then started painting. He created art for an exhibition called "Saltwater Country." He brought back designs that had not been painted since his father's death. From this time on, Wukun became a very well-known artist. He worked hard to honor his father and his family's history through his art.
He passed away in Darwin on May 4, 2022.
His Artwork
Wukun Wanambi used many different materials for his art. He is most famous for his paintings and sculptures. He used natural colors on tree bark. He also made traditional memorial poles, which are called larrakitj.
He also created prints at the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre. Wukun was the Cultural Director of the Mulka Project. This is a media center at Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka. In this role, he helped people understand what they were allowed to show in films, based on their clan's rules.
Wukun was also a video artist himself. He worked to connect different generations. He made art that recorded old ceremonies. He wanted to show how the past and present are linked. He also showed how local traditions are connected to the wider world. He did this by recording traditional practices.
Through his art and his work with the Mulka Project, Wukun wanted Aboriginal people to have a strong voice. He believed this would help everyone truly understand Aboriginal cultures.
Working as a Curator
In 2017, Wukun Wanambi traveled to the United States. He joined a team that put together an art show. The show was called "Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Art from Yirrkala." This was Wukun's first time working as a curator. A curator helps choose and arrange artworks for an exhibition.
In 2018, he also helped with another exhibition called "MIwatj." Wukun believed that Aboriginal people should be involved in all parts of art shows. His work on the Maḏayin exhibition showed his wish for Yolngu culture to be shown in a way that truly represented the Yolngu people.
Awards and Recognition
Wukun Wanambi won several important awards for his art:
- 1998 – NATSIAA Awards – Best Bark
- 2003 – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – Highly Commended (3D Work)
- 2007 – Togart Contemporary Art Award (NT) - Winner of Peoples Choice
- 2010 – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award Telstra
- 2018 – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award Telstra
Art Collections
Wukun Wanambi's artworks are held in many important collections around the world. This means his art is kept and shown in these places:
- MAGNT
- ANMM
- Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW
- Harland Collection
- Kerry Stokes Collection
- NT Supreme Court-Wukidi
- South Australian Art Gallery
- National Gallery of Australia
- Art Gallery of NSW
- Holmes a Court Collection
- Artbank
- Manly Regional Gallery
- Musee de Lyon France
- Colin and Liz Laverty, Sydney
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW
- British Museum, UK
- Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia
Important Exhibitions
Wukun Wanambi's art was shown in many exhibitions. Here are some of the important ones:
- 1998 NATSIAA
- 1998–2001 Saltwater
- 2001 New from Old Annandale Galleries, Sydney, NSW.
- 2003 Brighton International Art Festival UK
- 2004 Wukun Wanambi (his first solo show) Raft 2 Darwin
- 2005 Wukun Wanambi Niagara Galleries Melbourne
- 2005 Yakumirri, Raft Artspace (exhibition purchased by the Holmes a Court collection)
- 2007 Toga NT Contemporary Art Award – winner Peoples Choice
- 2008 Yarpany - Honey - bark paintings and Hollow Logs of the Marrakulu Clan, Framed Gallery, Darwin, NT
- 2010 27th NATSIAA, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT - Winner 3D category
- 2015 NATSIAA, MAGNT
- 2015 Enduring Civilisations, British Museum, UK
- 2019–2020 The Inside World: Contemporary Aboriginal Australian Memorial Poles, Nevada Museum of Art and touring.
