We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Mardayin design

2004

Artist

John Mawurndjul

Australia

1952 –

Language group: Kuninjku, Arnhem region

Artist profile

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Maningrida → Central Arnhem Land → Northern Territory → Australia
    Date
    2004
    Media category
    Print
    Materials used
    etching, 'Maningrida brown' ink on white BFK Rives Moulin du Gué wove paper
    Edition
    6/20
    Dimensions
    33.2 x 16.6 cm platemark; 50.1 x 33.0 cm sheet (irreg.)
    Signature & date

    Signed l.r. beneath platemark, pencil "JOHNNY". Not dated.

    Credit
    Mollie Gowing Acquisition fund for Contemporary Aboriginal art 2005
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    4.2005.4
    Copyright
    © John Mawurndjul, Maningrida Arts and Culture/Copyright Agency

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    John Mawurndjul

    Artist profile

    Works in the collection

    26

    Share

  • About

    This work by the artist concerns a major patrimoiety ceremony of a secret and sacred nature called Mardayin. Much of the meaning of the iconography in the painting is not in the domain of public knowledge and so it cannot be explained in detail here.

    The painting refers to a site, Kakodbebuldi, which is an outstation in Dangkorlo clan estate in the Mann River region. Kakodbebuldi is a Mardayin ceremony performance site and is located on a large billabong covered in waterlillies. This place is about 50km south of Maningrida in Central North Arnhem Land.

    © Maningrida Arts & Culture 2004

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Maningrida

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 1 exhibition

Other works by John Mawurndjul

See all 26 works