Contemporary Art from Remote Australia
Darwin, NT — Since 2008
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Exhibition

Bukkan Rowk  – ‘I am teaching you’

Where

Outstation Gallery
8 Parap Place
Parap, 0820
Darwin, Northern Territory

Art Centres

This exhibition is brought to you by Outstation, in collaboration with the following art centres:

Artists

  • Apphia Wurrkidj
  • Deborah Wurrkidj
  • James Iyuna
  • Melba Gunjarrwanga
  • Pamela Wurrkidj
  • Raphael Wurrkidj
Bukkan Rowk  – ‘I am teaching you’

THE CONTINUING TRADITION OF BALANG JAMES IYUNA

‘I have taught my wife how to paint. Now, we’re teaching together the next generation…They’re all coming up. They are the next generation of artists.’

JAMES IYUNA, 2006

 

By Luke Taylor

James Iyuna (1959-2016) and his wife Melba Gunjarrwanga (1959-) were the leaders of a group of artists living at the Kuninjku speaking outstation at Mumeka and, by sharing their artistic ideas, they created a unique local style centred upon their broader family. This exhibition includes Melba’s sister’s children, Deborah Wurrkidj (1971-)  and Raphael Wurrkidj (1988-), and James’ and Melba’s daughter, Apphia Wurrkidj (1984-). However the family, and the distinctive style of painting, also extends to multiple other younger artists who have benefitted from the generosity of these senior people.

This exhibition reveals the social processes by means of which painted form is shared across the generations in Kurulk art. We might step back to consider that such processes are thousands of generations deep in Western Arnhem Land. Many of us visit the escarpment of Arnhem Land and stand in awe at the aeons of art history the rock country reveals.

James Iyuna’s family show us how their religion of land creation is maintained, in part, through shared art making. Through these works, we glimpse the artistic spirit that exists within one of the greatest contributions ever made to world art. It is a contemporary expression the nation should treasure.

Wak Wak Pamela Wurrkidj

Sold  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Raphael Wurrkidj

A$750  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Raphael Wurrkidj

A$750  —  Details  /  Enquire

Bulawana Apphia Wurrkidj

A$2,400  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Apphia Wurrkidj

A$4,000  —  Details  /  Enquire

Bulawana Apphia Wurrkidj

A$3,700  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Apphia Wurrkidj

A$3,300  —  Details  /  Enquire

Kun-madj (Dilly bag) Apphia Wurrkidj

Reserved  —  Details  /  Enquire

Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) Apphia Wurrkidj

A$3,300  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

A$3,700  —  Details  /  Enquire

Mandjabu (Fish trap) Deborah Wurrkidj

Sold  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

A$1,600  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

A$2,200  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

A$3,600  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

A$4,000  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak Deborah Wurrkidj

Reserved  —  Details  /  Enquire

Buluwana at Dilebang Deborah Wurrkidj

A$4,300  —  Details  /  Enquire

Kun-madj (Dilly bag) James Iyuna

A$3,700  —  Details  /  Enquire

Kun-madj (Dilly bag) Melba Gunjarrwanga

A$2,400  —  Details  /  Enquire

Mandjabu (Fish trap) Melba Gunjarrwanga

A$2,600  —  Details  /  Enquire

Kun-madj (Dilly bag) Melba Gunjarrwanga

A$2,700  —  Details  /  Enquire

Buluwana at Dilebang James Iyuna

A$5,800  —  Details  /  Enquire

Buluwana at Dilebang James Iyuna

A$10,300  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak James Iyuna

A$9,300  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak James Iyuna

Reserved  —  Details  /  Enquire

Wak Wak James Iyuna

A$7,250  —  Details  /  Enquire

Buluwana at Dilebang James Iyuna

Sold  —  Details  /  Enquire

Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) James Iyuna

A$10,000  —  Details  /  Enquire