Peter Marralwanga

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]

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

Born in 1916 in West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia,[3] 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 continued his legacy by teaching younger artists of his region like his son, Ivan Namirrki, and nephew, John Mawurndjul. He is regarded as an inspirational painter from the region.

Career

Marralwanga began to paint during his mid 50s, starting around 1970. Under the guidance of Yirawala, Marralwanga began to incorporate ceremonial items in his works. His later style was further influenced by Yirawala.[4] Due to his age, he had gained permission from the clan to incorporate ceremonial elements and knowledge into the works of art .[5] In Kuninjku art, much artistic content is sacred, and artists have strict guidelines on what they can depict in their works. Often, artists who have special roles within a community receive exclusive rights to paint certain images.[6] Marralwanga's use of rarrk strayed from its original use for mortuary painting, being used instead to ensure that traditional foods grow each season. He passed his knowledge of rarrk to a new generation of artists and served as an inspiration to their works.

While much of Marralwanga's work was derived from the ceremony, he incorporated elements from his own life and experiences. Marralwanga described this interaction within his work between the ceremony and his personal experiences saying his works were “half secret one, half ordinary one."[7] Marralwanga's choice to explore his own experiences as well as his deep ceremonial knowledge allowed him to create a diverse body of work which depicted many figures and ceremonies.

Works
  • Peter Marralwanga, Kuninjku people, Ngal-Kunburriyaymi 1982[8]
  • Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent, at Manabinbala, 1980-81[9]
  • Mimih Spirit Dancing at Catfish Ceremony, 1979[10]
  • Kangaroo with Headdress and Spirit Figures, c. 1980s[11]

Exhibitions
  • 1981: Solo exhibition at Mary Macha at Aboriginal Traditional Arts
  • 1983: Solo exhibition at Mary Macha at Aboriginal Traditional Arts
  • 1989: A Myriad of Dreaming: Twentieth Century Aboriginal Art[12]
  • 1991: Aboriginal Art and Spirituality[13]
  • 2004: Crossing Country- the Alchemy of Western Arnhem Land Art[14]

References
  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. "Peter Marralwanga". NGV. The National Gallery of Victoria. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  4. "Peter Marralwanga | Peter Maralwanga | bark painting | value | sell". Aboriginal Bark Paintings. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. "The Artists: Peter Marralwanga". NMA. National Museum Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  6. "Indigenous Australian Art". Lumen Learning. Lumen. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. "The Artists: Peter Marralwanga". NMA. National Museum Australia. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. "Peter Marralwanga, Kuninjku people, Ngal-Kunburriyaymi 1982". Apple Podcasts (Podcast). National Gallery of Australia. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. Marralwanga, Peter. "Ngalyod, the Rainbow Serpent, at Manabinbala". National Gallery of Australia.
  10. Marralwanga, Peter. "Mimih Spirit Dancing at Catfish Ceremony". Invaluable.
  11. Marralwanga, Peter. "Kangaroo With Headdress And Spirit Figures". National Gallery of Australia.
  12. Lauraine Diggins Fine Art Pty Ltd (1989). A Myriad of dreaming: twentieth century Aboriginal art. Malakoff Fine Art Press.
  13. Crumlin, Rosemary (1991). Aboriginal art and spirituality. Collins Dove.
  14. Hetti, Perkins (2004). crossing country: The Alchemy of Western Arnhem Land Art. Art Gallery of New South Wales.
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