Dhuwarrwarr Marika
Djirirra Wunungmurra
Dhopiya Yunupiŋu
Gaypalani Wanambi
Lamangirra #2 Gumana
Dhambit #2 Wanambi (dec.)
Djurrayun Murrinyina
Following a recent visit to Yirrkala in North-Eastern Arnhem Land, TMG is proud to present a group show of artworks on bark, board and aluminium by seven women from Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Art Centre.
‘Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka’ takes its name from Yolŋu Matha (the language of the Yolŋu people). In English, ‘Buku-Larrŋgay’ means ‘the feeling on your face as it is struck by the first rays of the sun’, while ‘Mulka’ means ‘a sacred but public ceremony’.
Yolŋu artists are known for their mastery of the medium of bark which is harvested in sheets from Stringybark trees during the wet season. Moreover, since the late 1990s the defining element of Yolŋu art has been a continuous and daring process of innovation within the discipline of Yolŋu law.
It could be argued that the most significant innovation has been the relaxation of cultural restrictions placed upon women with regard to their painting of sacred art.
This cultural change was spearheaded in the 1970s by Dhuwarrwarr Marika and we are especially pleased to be able to include her works in this exhibition. Dhuwarrwarr was the first woman to paint in traditional Yolŋu style and also (coincidentally) a midwife who helped birth several of her fellow artists in this show.
The Art Centre Director, Will Stubbs, writes in the accompanying catalogue essay:
“Each of these seven women embody the shift from being proscribed from painting to (now) being celebrated.
Stylistically they share little in common beyond their reference to Yolŋu iconography and Yolŋu worldview.
But what they do share is their representation of the positive, optimistic, forward-looking, courageous response of Yolŋu to historical pressures presented by the dominating outsiders.”
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
575mm H x 285mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
575mm H x 285mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHOPIYA YUNUPIŊU
Galiku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
1200mm H x 890mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHOPIYA YUNUPIŊU
Galiku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
detail
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
LAMANGIRRA #2 GUMANA
Garrapara
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
1000mm H x 530mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
LAMANGIRRA #2 GUMANA
Garrapara
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
1000mm H x 530mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
LAMANGIRRA #2 GUMANA
Garrapara
2022
ochre, sand and natural pigments on Stringybark
1135mm H x 480mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
LAMANGIRRA #2 GUMANA
Garrapara
2022
ochre, sand and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
1135mm H x 480mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
580mm H x 385mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
580mm H x 385mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
1170mm H x 520mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
1170mm H x 520mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
780mm H x 600mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
780mm H x 600mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
950mm H x 330mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Wukili
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
950mm H x 330mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Djarrwark
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
400mm H x 340mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJURRAYUN MURRINYINA
Djarrwark
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
400mm H x 340mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHUWARRWARR MARIKA
Yalanbara
2022
ochre and natural pigments on board
610mm H x 510mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHUWARRWARR MARIKA
Yalanbara
2022
ochre and natural pigments on board
610mm H x 510mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
785mm H x 290mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
785mm H x 290mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
1250mm H x 400mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
1250mm H x 400mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHAMBIT #2 WANAMBI (dec)
Yalanba
2022
ochre, black sand and natural pigments on board
590mm H x 405mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHAMBIT #2 WANAMBI (dec)
Yalanba
2022
ochre, black sand and natural pigments on board
590mm H x 405mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHAMBIT #2 WANAMBI (dec)
Trial Bay (Yalanba)
2022
ochre, black sand and natural pigments on board
560mm H x 390mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHAMBIT #2 WANAMBI (dec)
Trial Bay (Yalanba)
2021
ochre, black sand and natural pigments on board (detail)
560mm H x 390mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign
600mm H x 400mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign (detail)
GW-2023-03 / BMC 2163-23
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign (reverse detail)
600mm H x 400mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium dibond
430mm H x 330mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI, Dawurr
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign
430mm H x 300mm
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI, Dawurr
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign (detail)
430mm H x 300mm
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
GAYPALANI WANAMBI
Dawurr
2023
incised aluminium road sign (reverse detail)
430mm H x 300mm
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
250mm H x 200mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
300mm H x 230mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2021
ochre and natural pigments on board
700mm H x 610mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
550mm H x 280mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Yukuwa
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
750mm H x 520mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
1560mm H x 560mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
1560mm H x 560mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUNMURRA
Buyku
2021
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
455mm H x 200mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUNMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
335mm H x 170mm W
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
7 Yirrkala Women
2023
Installation view
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
800mm H x 385mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
800mm H x 385mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2022
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark (detail)
800mm H x 385mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJIRRIRRA WUNUŊMURRA
Buyku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on Stringybark
875mm H x 320mm W
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DHOPIYA YUNUPINU
Galiku
2023
ochre and natural pigments on paper
1030mm H x 830mm W (frame)
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka
DJAKAŊU YUNUPIŊU,
Tears of the Djulpan
2023
ochre and natural pigments on paper
1030mm H x 830mm W (frame)