John Mawurndjul
(Australia 1952– )
- Language group
- Kuninjku, Arnhem region
- Title
- Mardayin design
- Place of origin
-
Maningrida →
Central Arnhem Land →
Northern Territory →
Australia
- Year
- 2004
- Media category
- Materials used
- hard-ground etching, black ink on white wove Velin Arches 250gsm paper
- Edition
- 25/30
- Dimensions
-
64.0 x 34.5cm platemark; 76.0 x 56.0cm sheet
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r. beneath platemark, pencil "JOHNNY". Not dated.
- Credit
- Mollie Gowing Acquisition Fund for Contemporary Aboriginal Art 2004
- Accession number
- 169.2004
- Copyright
- © John Mawurndjul. Licensed by Viscopy, Australia
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This work by Mawurndjul concerns a major patrimoeity ceremony of a secret and sacred nature called Mardayin. Much of the meaning of the iconography in the print is not in the domain of public knowledge and so it cannot be explained in detail here.
The image refers to a site at Mumeka, which is an outstation in the artist's clan estate in the Mann River region. The Mardayin ceremony performance site is located on a large billabong covered in waterlillies. This place is about 50km south of Maningrida in Central North Arnhem Land.
© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2004
- Bibliography (1)
-
Hetti Perkins (Australia), Crossing country: the alchemy of western Arnhem Land art, Sydney, 2004, 153 (illus.), 226.
- Exhibition history (2)
-
Crossing country: the alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 24 Sep 2004–12 Dec 2004.
The Dreamers (2009-10), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 09 May 2009 -.
