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Federation University Art Collection
Painting - Natural pigment on bark, Mawurndjul, John, 'Female Wayarra Spirit' by John Mawurndjul, 1995
Balang [John MAWURNDJUL] (1952 - ) Born Mumeka, Northern Territory Country: Milmilngkan, West Arnham Land, Northern Territory Clan: Na-Kurulk Language Group: Kunwinjku Location: Milmilngkan John Mawurndjul is an Australian indigenous artist. He is a member of the Kuninjku people of West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Growing up John had only occasional contact with non-indigenous people and culture. He was tutored in rarrk, a traditional painting technique using fine cross hatching and infill, working on small barks. During the 1980s he started producing larger and more complex works. The artist has painted 'Wayarra', a generic term which can include both malevolent spirit beings which continually inhabit certain sites or objects but can also mean the Spirit of a recently deceased person. These spirits are one of two spirits of the dead, the other being the 'Kun-malng' soul. The 'Wayarra' is the shadow or 'shade' of the dead and may take on the form of the deceased and haunt areas where the deceased recently inhabited. In order to prevent Wayarra spirits from harassing relative of the recently deceased, a smoking ceremont is performed where Ironwood leaves are burnt around the camp of the recently deceased and ochre is rubbed on all objects belonging to the deceased. Ochre may also be rubbed on vehicles, houses and trees. Some Wayarra are a particular Dreaming totem for people of certain clans. This is why many artists depict Wayarra in their bark paintings and sculptures. They are depicting clan totems particular to their lineage and which are celebrated in major regional patrimoiety ceremonies. In 1989 the work of John Mawurndjul was included in the landmark exhibition "Magiciens de la Terra' at the Centre Pompidou and Grande Halle de la Vilette in Paris, France. His works have also been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Australia, New York, Paris and Japan. Mawurndjul is one of eight artists whose work in part of the largest inernational commission of contemporary Indigenous art from Australia at the Musee du Quai Branly, Paris. The work was exhibited in the Australian survey "John Mawurndjul: I Am The Old And The New", at the Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the 160-odd works all chosen by Mawurndjul for inclusion in the exhibition. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.This artwork was chosen by John Murwurndjul as on of around 160 works for exhibition in the 2018 Australian Survey of his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The artist is known for his rarrk work, which is evident in 'Female Wayarra Spirit'.Aboriginal bark painting featurung rarrk. The artwork is associated with Dilebang, a duwa moiety place that belongs to the Kurulk clan. This work is currently on loan for exhibition in 'John Mawurndjul: I am the old and the new'. The exhibition will be shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (Sydney) from 6 July – 23 September 2018, and the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide from 26 October 2018 – 28 January 2019.art, artwork, john mawurndjul, aboriginal, bark painting, rarrk, wayarra, kuninjku, maningrida, loan -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, John Mawurndjul: I am the Old and the New, 2018
Hardcovered book with an image of a crocodile with rarrk design. The book is a catalogue for an exhibition developed and co-presented by the MCA and the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), in association with Maningrida Arts & Culture, this exhibition presents the work of one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists – master bark painter John Mawurndjul. Bringing forth a tradition shared by generations of Kuninjku artists, Mawurndjul is celebrated for his mastery of rarrk (cross-hatching) and his depiction of djang (sacred sites). Bark paintings and sculptures made over a thirty five year period, from private and public collections, and chosen by the artist, will introduce audiences to the concepts that shape Kuninjku culture and the significant ancestral locations in Central Arnhem Land. Born in 1952, Mawurndjul is a Kuninjku elder and artist. He lives and works in Milmilngkan and Maningrida in Central Arnhem Land. Since his first exhibition in 1982, he has become one of Australia’s most widely recognised artists. In 1989 he was included in the landmark exhibition Magiciens de la Terre at the Centre Pompidou and Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris, and his works have been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Sydney, New York, Paris and Japan. Following the presentation of this exhibition at the MCA, it will be presented at AGSA from 26 October 2018 until 28 January 2019 as part of TARNANTHI Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art.(https://maningrida.com/exhibition/john-mawurndjul-old-new/, accessed 05 November 2018) non-fictionjohn mawurndjul, bark painting, exhibition catalogue, rarrk