Yanggarriny Wunungmurra facts for kids

Yanggarriny Wunungmurra (born around 1932, died 2003) was an amazing artist and leader. He was a member of the Dhalwangu clan, part of the Yolngu people. They live in northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Yanggarriny was also a skilled yidaki (didgeridoo) player.

His Art and Achievements

Yanggarriny Wunungmurra was a very important artist. He helped create the famous Yirrkala Church Panels in 1963. These panels are large bark paintings that tell stories from the Yolngu culture. His art is now in many big collections of Aboriginal Australian art.

He was also known for his music. Yanggarriny was a talented yidaki player, singer, and dancer. People described him as a complete artist.

In 1997, Yanggarriny won a major award. His artwork called Gangan won first prize at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. This is a very important art prize in Australia.

Protecting His Art: A Court Case

In 1983, Yanggarriny Wunungmurra made history. He was the first Aboriginal artist to have his copyright protected in an Australian court. Copyright is a legal right that protects original works of art, music, and writing. It means others cannot copy or use the work without permission.

The court case was called Yanggarriny Wunungmurra v. Peter Stripes Fabrics. Yanggarriny sued a company for using his painting without asking. The company had copied his artwork, Long-necked Freshwater Tortoises by the Fish Trap at Gaanan (painted in 1975).

Before this case, Australian law did not always see Aboriginal designs as "original" art. This meant they were not always protected by copyright. Yanggarriny argued that his painting was unique. He said that even though he learned the design from an elder, his way of drawing the tortoise was like his own signature. The court agreed that his personal style made his work original. This case was a big step forward for protecting the rights of Aboriginal artists.

Where You Can See His Art

Yanggarriny Wunungmurra's artworks are kept in many important places. These include:

• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Art Gallery of South Australia
• The British Museum
• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
• National Gallery of Victoria
• National Museum of Australia

Important Art Shows

His art has been shown in special exhibitions:

• 1995: Miny'tji Buku-Larrnggay: Paintings from the East. This show was at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
• 1999-2001: Saltwater: Yirrkala Bark Paintings of Sea Country. This exhibition traveled to many places. It was shown at the Drill Hall Gallery in Canberra, the John Curtin Gallery in Perth, and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, among others.

His Family's Artistic Legacy

Yanggarriny's son, Nawurapu Wunungmurra, is also a well-known artist. You can see his work in the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide.