Order
2021
- Medium
- synthetic polymer paint on Stringybark (Eucalyptus sp.)
- Measurements
- 201.4 × 99.0 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Yirrkala, Northern Territory
- Inscription
- printed (vertically) in ink and inscribed in blue fibre-tipped pen on reverse u.c.l.: ● BUKU-LARRAŊGAY MULKA ● / (two figures) (in a circle) / YIRRKALA N.T. (all in a circle) Artists DHAMBIT / MUNUNGURR / Description / CatNo 1468-21 Price
inscribed (vertically) in fibre-tipped pen on reverse c.r.: (…illeg.) 468-21
inscribed (vertically) in fibre-tipped pen on reverse l.c.l.: 1468–21 1468–21 - Accession Number
- 2021.550
- Department
- First Nations Australia
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Janet Whiting AM and Phil Lukies, 2021
© Artist/Estate - Gallery location
- Gallery 2
Ground Level, NGV Australia - About this work
-
In this blue bark painting, Dhambit Munuŋgurr captures the Parliament of Australia with the Commonwealth Coat of Arms depicted at the bottom. Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard leads a group of male and female Yolŋu dancers into the chamber. This is perhaps a metaphorical reference to her desire for greater recognition of women’s and Indigenous rights within the male-dominated power structures of Australian society. Munuŋgurr has always admired Julia Gillard and had painted a gift for her in anticipation of a proposed visit to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Yirrkala Bark Petition on 10 July 2013. The work, now in the NGV Collection, was viewed by Gillard during the Bark Ladies exhibition in 2021, where the artist and politician had the opportunity to chat over the work, highlighting their shared passion for celebrating the power and strength of women.
