Djulpan – From the Stars – Dhalmula Burarrwaŋa
1 - 23 Aug. Opening Event 11am, Saturday 9th August @ Outstation Gallery Parap
The theme of this exhibition is an ancient songline which celebrates the constellation of Djulpan (Orion, Big Dipper) in its Australian manifestation. In April across the Top End the first stars you see after sunset show a man in a canoe with his spear raised to strike. And this is a representation of the Dhuwa brothers pursuing the seven sisters who have come from the North to hunt in the post Wet season harvest time.
Dhalmula’s mother is the daughter of Roy Marika also known as the Father of Land Rights. Her maternal grandmother Dhundhuŋa was one of the daughters of Muŋgurrawuy whose other children include Australians of the Year, Galarrwuy and Mandawuy Yunupingu and famous artists, Gaymala, Gulumbu, Barrupu, Nyapanyapa, Djerrkŋu, Djakaŋu and Dhopiya. As her grandmother died before she was born she was nurtured by Djerrkŋu.
Both the art and the artist are from the stars.
She began making prints when she was 17 and won the Emerging Artist category in the 2023 40th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. She has recently become a mother for the first time.
I was born at Nhulunbuy Hospital. My mother is Natjinga Marika. l live in Yirrkala – Recreation Road. I enjoy learning about printmaking and I have a good knowledge of photographic linocut. I would like to learn more about art. My favourite artist was my grandmother Gaymala Yunupingu, she made lots of prints that were very colourful.’
