Peter Marralwanga

Peter Marralwanga
Born1916 (1916)
West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Died1987 (aged 70–71)
Known forPainter
StyleBark paintings; rarrk
Patron(s)Yirawala

Peter Marralwanga (1916–1987), also known as Djakku (meaning left-handed[1]), was an Aboriginal Australian artist known for his paintings. He was a member of the Kardbam clan of the Bininj people, and spoke the Kuninjku language.[2] In addition to being a ceremonial leader, Marralwanga also helped found the Marrkolidjban outstation near Maningrida in 1972, with the help of artists Yirawala, Mick Mandayngu and Curly Barrkadubu.[3] For most of his life, Marralwanga lived at the remote outstation, but briefly lived at the government settlement at Maningrida.[4]

Born in 1916 in West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia,[5] Marralwanga derived influence from Yirawala, a fellow artist and elder from his community. He is best known for his creation of paintings both on paper and bark. These works reflect the artistic practices of his elders and community, featuring elements of ceremonial and spiritual creatures alongside the cross-hatching pattern known as rarrk. He taught younger artists of his region including his son, Ivan Namirrki, and nephew, John Mawurndjul. Not only did Marralwanga possess an "intimate firsthand knowledge of the religious geography"[3] of his country (which he passed on to his sons), but he also aided in the technical aspects of painting, sometimes even re-tracing the work of his sons to correct or improve the figuration.[6] He is regarded as an inspirational painter not only to such famous artists as John Marwurndjul, but also for his daughter Kay Lindjuwanga, who adapted Marralwanga's stories into her own bark paintings.[7]

  1. ^ "Peter Marralwanga- Artist Profiles". Cooee Art. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. ^ "The Artists: Peter Marralwanga". NMA. National Museum Australia. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Luke (1 January 2017). "Drawings about Djang: drawings on paper by Jimmy Bireyula, 1983". Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ^ Geissler, Marie (2022). Dreaming the Land: Aboriginal Art from Remote Australia. Thames & Hudson.
  5. ^ "Peter Marralwanga". NGV. The National Gallery of Victoria. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  6. ^ Luke, Taylor (December 2008). "'They may say tourist, may say truly painting': aesthetic evaluation and meaning of bark paintings in western Arnhem Land, northern Australia". Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).