Mawalan Marika
Mawalan Marika | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1908 |
| Died | 26 November 1967 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Roy Dadaynga Marika , Dhunggala Marika (brothers) |
Mawalan Marika (c.1908–1967), often referred to as Mawalan 1 Marika to distinguish from
Biography
Mawalan Marika was born around 1908 in
In addition to being an important asset to many anthropologists, including Charles P. Mountford and Ronald Berndt, he was one of the most prominent political activists of his time.[2] Mawalan and his four brothers led the other clans in presenting the Yirrkala bark petitions to the Australian Government in 1963, in the lead-up to the 1971 Gove land rights case (aka Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, named after his brother Milirrpum[4]).[5][6]
Marika was one of the first artists to break from tradition and teach his daughters (i.e. women) how to paint the sacred
Career
Marika painted over 40 works, many of which can be found in art collections of museums or private collectors.
As well as being known for his bark paintings, Marika had a high level of skill in carving and sculpture. His sculptures are cleanly painted with clan designs and finished with feathers, human hair, or other such natural attachments.[2]
His style is characteristic of the Dhuwa moiety, featuring many dots, diagonal lines, and geometric/diamond shapes.
Collections
- Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney[3]
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Significant exhibitions
- Old Masters Exhibition - National Gallery of Australia[2]
- The Art of Arnhem Land - Perth, 1957[4]
- Dreamings - New York, 1988[4]
- Aratjara - Europe, 1993–94[4]
- Yalangbara: Art of the Djang'kawu - National Museum of Australia, 2010–11[4]
References
- ^ a b c "The Marika family". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mawalan Marika". Aboriginal Bark Paintings. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Mawalan Marika". Art Gallery of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "National Museum of Australia - Mawalan Marika". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Our Campaign". Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation. 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Leaders in law, business and community". Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
...five Rirratjingu brothers took action. Mawalan Marika, Mathaman Marika, Milirrpum Marika, Dhunggala Marika and Roy Dadaynga Marika led the 13 Yirrkala clans to create the Yirrkala bark petitions.
- ^ National Portrait Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Marika, Mawalan | 41 Artworks | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "Works from the collective title Djan'kawu story". Art Gallery of NSW. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-7347-6344-0.
- Knott, Matthew (13 December 2019). "Sale of Indigenous art expected to fetch up to $3.9 million at New York auction". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "The Marika family". National Museum of Australia. 29 July 2019. Short bios of: Mawalan Marika 1 (c. 1908–1967), Mathaman Marika (c. 1920–1970), Milirrpum Marika (c. 1923–1983), Wandjuk Djuwakan Marika OBE (1929–1987), Banduk Marika (born 1954), Dhuwarrwarr Marika (born c.1946), Wanyubi Marika (born 1967), Yalmay Gurrwun (Marika) Yunupingu (born 1956), Mawalan Marika 2(born 1957), Jimmy Barrmula Yunupingu (born 1963) (son of Dhuwarrwarr Marika).
- ISBN 978-1-921953-16-3.
- Pearce, Barry; Art Gallery of New South Wales (2014). 100 Moments in Australian Painting. NewSouth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-74223-129-7.
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