25. Waŋupini, 2022 (13/50)
Waŋupini (clouds) is the same story as my father taught me about the sunset. The sun is going down. The sunset on the clouds is like the red sails of the Makassan's ships leaving at the end of the season. We cry because the Makassans are leaving. The mokuy (spirit) is dancing and leaving - the body is dead and the sprit is going to Balambala. This is Yirritja bäpurru (ceremony), the same as my GrandaŌher, Yaŋgarriny - this is his manikay (song) The sun will rise again. The Makassans will come back. And the spirit will return. My father, who passed away, taught me this story. he taught me how to paint the story of Waŋupini.
- Etching on Hahnemuhle paper
- Dimensions: 32.5cm x 50cm artwork on 45.5cm x 65cm paper
- Cat No. 9175-22-13/50
- Homeland: Gurrumuru / Gangan
- Clan: Dhalwaŋu
- Moiety: Yirritja
Bulthirrirri is an emerging artist and the daughter (by Yolngu law) of great painter and sculpter Nawurapu Wunuŋmurra (dec). Under the guidance of her father (recently deceased) Bulthirrirri is following and maintaining her families rich artistic heritage through her own hand. Bulthirrirri is also the granddaughter of Yaŋgarriny, great Dhaḻwaŋu clan artist and leader who was a painter of the Yirrkala Church Panels and winner of the best bark prize in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander art awards in 1997. Balthirrirri has assisted other artists at the Dhaḻwaŋu homeland of Gåṉgaṉ and began making artworks on her own in late 2007. Since then she has explored numerous innovative styles of her own devise. In 208-9 she was elected to the management committee of the art centre. Following the death of her father Nawurapu she assumed responsibility for the creation of art in his themes.
Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre is the Indigenous community controlled art centre of Northeast Arnhem Land. Located in Yirrkala, a small Aboriginal community on the northeastern tip of the Top End of the Northern Territory, approximately 700km east of Darwin. The primarily Yolŋu (Aboriginal) staff of around twenty services Yirrkala and the approximately twenty-five homeland centres in the radius of 200km.
In the 1960’s, Narritjin Maymuru set up his own beachfront gallery from which he sold art that now graces many major museums and private collections. He is counted among the art centre’s main inspirations and founders, and his picture hangs in the museum. His vision of Yolŋu-owned business to sell Yolŋu art that started with a shelter on a beach has now grown into a thriving business that exhibits and sells globally.
Today Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre consists of two divisions; the Yirrkala Art Centre which represents Yolŋu artists exhibiting and selling contemporary art and The Mulka Project which acts as a digital production studio and archiving centre incorporating the museum.
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