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Bodily Themes and Imagery in Yolngu Art Howard Morphy February 19 and 20, 2020

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Bodily Themes and Imagery in Yolngu Art Howard Morphy February 19 and 20, 2020 Art Appreciation Lecture Series 2020 Love, sex and death: The constant companions of art Death and the regeneration of life — bodily themes and imagery in Yolngu Art Howard Morphy February 19 and 20, 2020 Lecture summary: The focus of the lecture is on bodily symbolism in the art of the Yolngu people of east Arnhem Land. Sex is very much present, and the emotions of longing, desire, sadness, joy and hope are central to understanding Yolngu art in context. But sexual references are always only one of the possible readings of the symbolism of Yolngu art. For much of the lecture I will leave the meanings implicit, allowing them to emerge out of the complex iconography of the art. I will argue that in its implicit, expressive and emergent treatment of meaning Yolngu art shares much in common with other great world artistic traditions. Slide list 1 a) Pablo Picasso L'Arlésienne: Lee Miller 1937 Private international collection b) Narritjin Maymuru Nyapililngu, ancestral spirit woman of the Manggalili 1969 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Jim and Rene Davidson 2 a) Pablo Picasso L'Arlésienne: Lee Miller 1937 Private international collection b) Mawalan Marika Figure of Djan’kawu Ancestral Being of the Dhuwa moiety 1960 Art Gallery of New South Wales, Gift of Dr Stuart Scougall 3 Map of Yolngu Country, Frances Morphy 4 Photograph of Yalangbara, Howard Morphy 5 Mawalan Marika Journey to Buralku, 1947 Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia 6 a) Mawalan Marika detail from Journey to Buralku b) Goanna tracks in dunes c) Wandjuk Marika and Mawalan Marika Yalangbara sandhills and goanna holes 1947 Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia 7 The digging stick spit. 8 Mawalan Marika The Djan’kawu Creation Story 1959 Art Gallery of New South Wales, Gift of Dr Stuart Scougall. 9 a Mawalan Marika Djan’kawu 1947 Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia. 10 a) Wandjuk Marika and Mawalan Marika Yalangbara sandhills and goanna holes 1947 Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia b) Minirrki Marika Feathered Ceremonial Basket, 1947 Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia c) Wandjuk Marika Yalangbara digging stick of the Djan’kawu House of Representatives, Canberra. 11 a and b circumcision ceremony Yirrkala 1974, photographs H Morphy Proudly sponsored by: 12 Djan’kawu body painting 2004 Yilpara, photo H Morphy 13 Launch of the Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu book, Darwin Government House. 2008, photograph H Morphy. 14 Giving birth at the launch of the Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu book, Darwin Government House. 2008, photograph H Morphy. 15 Narritjin Maymuru Nyapililngu, ancestral spirit woman of the Manggalili 1969 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Jim and Rene Davidson 16 a) Narritjin Maymuru Nyapililngu, ancestral spirit woman of the Manggalili 1969 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Jim and Rene Davidson. b) Narritjin Maymuru Yingapungapu Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 17a Narritjin Maymuru Yingapungapu Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory. b Marsden Hartley Handsome Drinks, 1916 Brooklyn Museum 18a) Narritjin Maymuru Yingapungapu Kluge Ruhe Centre for Aboriginal Art, University of Virginia b) Narritjin Maymuru untitled 1959 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Gabriel Pizzi. 19 The sand dunes at Djarrakpi, photo H. Morphy 20 Narritjin Maymuru Nyapililngu, ancestral spirit woman of the Manggalili 1969 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Jim and Rene Davidson. 21 The lake at Djarrakpi, photo H. Morphy 22 Whistling trees at Baniyala, photo H. Morphy 23 The ancestral yingapungapu at Baniyala 24 -27 Yingapungapu sand sculpture in mortuary ritual at Baniyala, photo H. Morphy 28 Narritjin Maymuru, Newcastle Art Gallery 29 Three paintings by Narritjin Maymuru of sand crabs at Gungunbuy. 30 a) Nyapililngu mourning, Narritjin Maymuru 1976 private collection b) Narritjin Maymuru Nyapililngu, ancestral spirit woman of the Manggalili 1969 National Gallery of Victoria, gift of Jim and Rene Davidson. c) Narritjin Maymuru Yingapungapu Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 30 a) Narritjin Maymuru, photo Ian Dunlop b) Nyapililngu carving c) Narritjin Maymuru Final Painting, 1982 Buku Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre 31 a) yingapungapu in Australia House. Photo H. Morphy b) Granddaughters Boliny and Ralwurrandji Wanambi at the NMA 2004, photo H Morphy Reference: Morphy, Howard 1991. Ancestral Connections: art and an Aboriginal system of knowledge. Chicago University Press Morphy, Howard 2008, ''Joyous maggots': The symbolism of Yolngu mortuary rituals', in M. Hinkson and J. Beckett (ed.), An Appreciation of Difference: W.E.H. Stanner and Aboriginal Australia pp. 137- 150 Aboriginal Studies Press Pinchbeck, Cara 2013 Yirrkala Crayon Drawings Art Gallery of New South Wales West Margie 2008 Yalangbara_ the art of the Djang’kawu CDU Press For access to all past lecture notes visit: https:// www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/members/current-members/member-events/being- human-figure-art/ .
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