Significant Indigenous Ancestral Sites Revealed in New Art Publication

Significant Indigenous Ancestral Sites Revealed in New Art Publication

A new publication featuring images of more than 80 Indigenous artworks including bark paintings, figure carvings, hollow logs, fibre items and prints from Yalangbara (Port Bradshaw), northeast Arnhem Land will be launched this Thursday, 12 March 2009 at Government House.

Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT) Emeritus Curator of Aboriginal Art and anthropologist Margie West said Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu is the result of a three year collaboration between MAGNT and the well known Marika family.

“The Marika family and members of the Rirratjingu clan wanted to document their ancestral stories and profile their family’s rich artistic legacy,” Ms West said.

“Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu is the first Indigenous art publication to focus on one significant ancestral site.

“For more than three generations the Marika family have been creating artworks about their homeland in various mediums, and many of the works featured in the publication have been drawn from MAGNT as well as other collections around Australia and overseas.

“Some of the pieces include barks made in the 1930s, rare crayon drawings collected in the 1950s by anthropologist Ronald Berndt, as well as contemporary works that show the changes that have occurred in Rirratjingu art over the generations.”

In addition to artworks the publication also features essays by leading academics and members of the Marika family.

Family member and Indigenous artist Banduk Marika said she considered the publication of her family’s artwork and related stories as the next step following the listing of Yalangbara on the Commonwealth Government’s Register of the National Estate in 2003.

“This publication is like entering into our parliament – the Rirratjingu parliament – we are giving the public access to information that has been forbidden for thousands of years because its time to show everyone that Yalangbara is important,” Ms Marika said.

Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu will be officially launched by His Honour Mr Tom Pauling AO QC, Administrator of the Northern Territory.  Copies of the publication can be purchased from the MAGNT Shop or Charles Darwin University Bookshop.

Following on from the book launch of Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu will be a free public seminar chaired by Margie West and featuring speakers from the Marika family as well as anthropologists and writers to explore some of the themes in the publication at MAGNT theatrette from 10am-1pm Friday, 13 March 2009.

Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory is also currently developing an exhibition of the Rirratjingu clan in partnership with the National Museum of Australia scheduled for late 2010.

For more information go to www.magnt.nt.gov.au or phone 8999 8228 to attend the seminar. 

Significant Indigenous Ancestral Sites Revealed in New Art Publication

A new publication featuring images of more than 80 Indigenous artworks including bark paintings, figure carvings, hollow logs, fibre items and prints from Yalangbara (Port Bradshaw), northeast Arnhem Land will be launched this Thursday, 12 March 2009 at Government House.

Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT) Emeritus Curator of Aboriginal Art and anthropologist Margie West said Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu is the result of a three year collaboration between MAGNT and the well known Marika family.

“The Marika family and members of the Rirratjingu clan wanted to document their ancestral stories and profile their family’s rich artistic legacy,” Ms West said.

“Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu is the first Indigenous art publication to focus on one significant ancestral site.

“For more than three generations the Marika family have been creating artworks about their homeland in various mediums, and many of the works featured in the publication have been drawn from MAGNT as well as other collections around Australia and overseas.

“Some of the pieces include barks made in the 1930s, rare crayon drawings collected in the 1950s by anthropologist Ronald Berndt, as well as contemporary works that show the changes that have occurred in Rirratjingu art over the generations.”

In addition to artworks the publication also features essays by leading academics and members of the Marika family.

Family member and Indigenous artist Banduk Marika said she considered the publication of her family’s artwork and related stories as the next step following the listing of Yalangbara on the Commonwealth Government’s Register of the National Estate in 2003.

“This publication is like entering into our parliament – the Rirratjingu parliament – we are giving the public access to information that has been forbidden for thousands of years because its time to show everyone that Yalangbara is important,” Ms Marika said.

Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu will be officially launched by His Honour Mr Tom Pauling AO QC, Administrator of the Northern Territory.  Copies of the publication can be purchased from the MAGNT Shop or Charles Darwin University Bookshop.

Following on from the book launch of Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu will be a free public seminar chaired by Margie West and featuring speakers from the Marika family as well as anthropologists and writers to explore some of the themes in the publication at MAGNT theatrette from 10am-1pm Friday, 13 March 2009.

Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory is also currently developing an exhibition of the Rirratjingu clan in partnership with the National Museum of Australia scheduled for late 2010.

For more information go to www.magnt.nt.gov.au or phone 8999 8228 to attend the seminar.