Untitled (Larrikitj), 2004, Wanyubi Marika
Natural earth pigments on hollow logs, 196cm
Provenance: Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre, Yirrkala. Private collection, United States of America. Deutscher and Hackett, Sydney.
Artist Statement
“My father Milirrpum was, in my life time was the ‘third’ elder or clan leader of the Rirratjiumala, after Mawalan #1 and Mathaman. After the deaths of Mawalan, the original plaintiff in the countrys first land right case and of Mathaman it was my father who represented his people in Darwin’s Supreme Court. His spiritual birth place was in Rarrkala, up near the Wessell island group with the Bararrnu clan Milurr (birth place). Milirrpum was a strong law man of his people, a wise man, and fisherman who fed a lot of people in the old Mission days and a good father to immediate family and to the community.
My fathers taught me how and what I can paint. It was for Buku-arrgay Mulka’s ‘Saltwater’ bark painting project that first had me painting publically on a serious level. Living much of my time today at Bäniyala (my wife’s country whose father is Wakuthi). I paint amongst the Maarrpa clan artists as well as my own when living at Yirrkala. I am the Buku-arrgay Mulka Artist Committee Chairperson."
The Lorrkon or bone pole coffin ceremony was the final ceremony in a sequence of mortuary rituals celebrated by the people of Arnhem Land. This ceremony involves the placing of the deceased’s bones into a hollow log, which is decorated with painted clan designs and ceremonially placed into the ground where it remained until it slowly decay over many years. The log is made from a termite hollowed stringybark tree (Eucalyptus tetradonta) and is decorated with totemic emblems.