Famous Indigenous artist part of show

The art of one of the Indigenous painters invited to work on the Musée du quai Branly in Paris has gone on show at the Drill Hall Gallery.

The exhibition ‘Mumeka to Milmilngkan: Innovation in Kurulk Art’ spans nearly 30 years and includes over 60 works created by three brothers of the Kurulk clan and their families, all of the Kuninjuku community from western Arnhem Land. One of the brothers, John Mawurndjul, was asked to paint part of the museum of Indigenous art that opened in the French capital earlier this year.

“Being able to continue to live on their country has been the key to the success of this medium,” Professor Jon Altman, Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy at ANU, said. “The result is authentic, spiritual and, lively art which has increasing appeal. Over the last 30 years art has provided the Kurulk and their immediate families with a means to a cultural, political and economic empowerment.”

Professor Altman said the art in the exhibition comes from three different outstations in western Arnhem Land: Mumeka, Kurrurldul and Milmilngkan. He said the exhibition documents the transformations of Kurulk art since 1979, exploring the connections between individual art styles and different places, and how women have emerged as acclaimed artists in the last decade.

The exhibition, which was opened by National Gallery of Australia Director Ron Radford, runs until 17 December. Professor Altman curated the exhibition with Apolline Kohen from the Maningrida Arts Centre. He is giving floor talks about the exhibition on Sunday 3 December and Sunday 17 December at 3pm.
 

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