Noŋgirrŋa Marawili (born c.1939)

LIGHTNING AND THE ROCK, 2019

earth pigments and recycled print toner on paper

48.0 x 38.0 cm
73.0 x 62.0 cm (frame)

bears inscription verso: Buku-Larrngay Mulka Arts cat. 1728-19

Buku–Larrŋgay Mulka Arts, Yirrkala, Northern Territory (label attached verso)
Private collection, Melbourne, acquired from the above

Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Arts at Tarnanthi Art Fair, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 18 – 20 October 2019

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Buku–Larrŋgay Mulka Centre which states in part:

‘Noŋgirrŋa started life as one of the numerous children of Mundukul the Madarrpa warrior (c.1890 – c.1950). He was a famed leader/warrior with uncoutables wives of the Karrakulu, Dhudi Djapu and Gälpu clans. She was a child of one of the four Gälpu wives, Buluŋguwuy. Life was a bountiful but disciplined subsistence amongst a working family group of closely related mothers, brothers and sisters. This was over fifty people! She was born on the beach at Darrpirra north of Cape Shield on the oceanside. But they were Wakir’ – camping – moving around. They went to Yilpara. They went to Djarrakpi. But their special place was Guwaŋarripa (Woodah Island). They were a fleet of canoes travelling all the way to Groote Island and back and forth from the mainland. They lived in this rich place. Their special spot on the mainland was Baratjala. A place to which she only returned after the creation of these paintings.’