Collection
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art
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Title
Mardayin design
2004
About
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
Details
Date
2004
Materials used
hard-ground etching, black ink on white wove Velin Arches 250gsm paper
Edition
25/30
Dimensions
64.0 x 34.5 cm platemark; 76.0 x 56.0 cm sheet
Signature & date
Signed l.r. beneath platemark, pencil "JOHNNY". Not dated.
Credit
Mollie Gowing Acquisition Fund for Contemporary Aboriginal Art 2004
Location
Not on display
Accession number
169.2004
URL / Share
John Mawurndjul
Mardayin design
Place
Where the work was made
Maningrida
Shown in 2 exhibitions
Exhibition history
Crossing country: the alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 24 Sep 2004–12 Dec 2004
The Dreamers (2009-10), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 09 May 2009–15 Aug 2010
Referenced in 1 publication
Bibliography
Crossing country: the alchemy of western Arnhem Land art, Sydney, 2004, 153 (illus.), 226.