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Aboriginal artist Andrew Margululu’s work predominantly embraces
the journeys of the Wagilag Sisters’ story, an important Aboriginal
creation myth, and, in turn, the spirits who hunt honey and the
country they established along the way.
In 1989 Marrgululu was the first artist from Ramingining to produce
a large bark for the Kluge Ruhe Collection, an important collection
of Aboriginal Art commissioned by the University of Virginia in
the United States. By producing the first major painting of a exceptional
standard, Marrgalulu was instrumental in setting a high precedent
for the other artists involved in this prestigious project.
Djon Mundine, a respected curator and author on indigenous Australian
art describes the Australian landscape as being “full of signs”,
a comment which also applies to Margululu’s artwork perfectly. Marrgalulu
has not only mastered the traditional medium of bark painting, but,
in collaboration with printmaker Theo Tremblay, produces stunning
contemporary prints.
Andrew Marrgalulu was one of the key artists to participate in the
first print workshops at Milingimbi, held in 1996, where he modified
his traditional designs to suite this new medium, successfully refining
and exploring new possibilities. He responded particularly well
to lithography. The shift from painting to making fine art prints
proved less of an issue for him than his desire to maintain his
cultural traditions through his artwork.
In 1997 Marrgalulu was one of the artists who participated in a
series of workshops held in Ramingining, by Theo Tremblay, during
which they produced an important series of prints called ‘The Ramingining
Print Suite’. This suite was based on the Wagilag Sisters’ creation
story and represented a unique collaboration by celebrated Aboriginal
artists. Margululu was also commissioned to produce a painting for
the Federal Airports Corporation which is on permanent display at
Darwin airport.
subjects and themes
Subjects are Yarrpany (Dhuwa moiety honey). catfish, bream fish,
Mewal honey spirit, sea snake, water goanna.
collections
Australian Museum, Sydney.
Kluge Ruhe Collection, Charlottesville, USA .
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
Tropenmuseum, Kindermuseum, Amsterdam.
exhibitions
Group exhibitions
1983 Australian Perspecta, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
1984 Aboriginal Art, an Exhibition Presented by the Australian Institute
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra.
1987 Bark Paintings from Ramingining, Birukmarri Gallery, Perth,
WA.
1989 Aboriginal Art: The Continuing Tradition, National Gallery
of Australia, Canberra.
1990 Ramingining Art, Birukmarri Gallery, Fremantle.
1992 Art of the Spirit, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise,
Queensland.
1994 The Eleventh National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum
and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
bibliography
Isaacs, J., 1984, Australia’s Living Heritage, Arts of the Dreaming,
Lansdowne Press, Sydney.(C)
NT News, 27/12/1993, p. 6.
1983, Australian Perspecta 1983, A Biennial Survey of Contemporary
Australian Art, exhib. cat., Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
Art from the Land: dialogues with the Kluge-Ruhe Collection of Australian
Aboriginal Art ed. by Howard Morphy and Margo Smith, University
of Virginia 1999.
Aboriginal Art Prints Home
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region
Central Arnhem Land
state
NT
community
Ramingining
born
1959
language bloc
Djinang
language
Marrangu
art centre
Bulabula Arts
medium
Bark painting, ochres on bark, carved and painted hollow log coffin, ochres on canvas, ochres on canvas art board, carving, carved and painted wooden figures, limited edition prints.
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