Title

Djalkiri: We are standing on their names – Blue Mud Bay.

Venues

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery [3] (14 September 2013 – 27 October 2013)

Date

(2013)

Summary

Multi-artist exhibition. Located: Australia. Prints

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery is proud to present a unique and exquisite series of prints, in the new exhibition Djalkiri: We are standing on their names – Blue Mud Bay. The works on display are the culmination of a vibrant and intensive cross-cultural exchange between five highly respected Yithuwa Madarrpa artists and four renowned artists from across Australia. They capture essential aspects of country at Blue Mud Bay in Eastern Arnhem Land, recognised as one of the most pristine and culturally significant places in Australia.

In October 2009, artists Djambawa Marawili, Marrirra Marawili, Liyawaday Wirrpanda, Marrnyula Mununggurr and Mulkun Wirrpanda participated in a printmaking workshop with master printmaker Basil Hall at the community of Yilpara, working alongside visiting artists Fiona Hall, John Wolseley, Jörg Schmeisser and Judy Watson.

At Yilpara, accompanied by ethno-biologist Glenn Wightman, anthropologist Howard Morphy and photographer Peter Eve, the artists made trips to country, visiting ancestral sites and sharing traditional and scientific knowledge. Around the campfire at night they discussed culture, history, sea rights and events, each of the artists responding to the experience in their own way. The twenty-three works on show in Djalkiri: We are standing on their names are the result of this vibrant cultural exchange.

The title, Djalkiri: We are standing on their names – Blue Mud Bay, is drawn from the words of Djambawa Marawili; Djalkiri literally means ‘footprint’, but when applied to Yolngu law it takes on a more profound meaning, forming the ‘spiritual foundation of the world’. It is an acknowledgement of cultural inheritance based on understanding and mutual respect. It is about walking together in the footsteps of the ancestors. [Wagga Wagga Art Gallery media release 2013]

Last Updated

11 Apr 2024