Ray Mudjandi – Nabang Kundjak (Deadly Virus)

Medicine Man was one of the six superhero characters that made up Mudjandi’s 2016 debut exhibition, ‘Bininj Ikon’.

‘Medicine man is a goodie, his superpower is that he can shrink and go inside the body.’

In the artist’s latest exhibition ‘Nabang Kundjak’ the Medicine Man character makes his return amongst a collection of friends and deadly foe, including the dreaded Virus Man.

‘Virus Man is a bad guy, a villain; he wants to try and destroy the world by making everyone sick. He goes up people’s nose, he knocks them down, dead.’

Virus Man’s league of evil include Birndu Man, half man half mosquito and Poison Man also known as Death Shadow.

The contrast and synergy between contemporary Pop culture and Bininj culture is at the heart of Mudjandi’s work. Birndu Man is derived from Bininj Dreaming stories and appears in rock art sites in Kakadu National Park. Mudjandi worked closely with senior Kakadu artist and mentor Abel Naborlhborlh in the creation of the Birndu man character.

‘I’ve seen that painting and old people told me that story. He’s a bad man. Kills Bininj; sucks all their blood out.’ says Naborlhborlh talking about Birndu Man.

A collaborative bark painting between Mudjandi and Naborlhborlh depicting Birndu man
appears in the exhibition.

To combat the evil, Medicine Man is joined by new character Vaccine Man.

‘Vaccine man, he came to Medicine Man in 2022 when the virus was in communities. Both give strength to Bininj, they go inside the body and give strength. They protect people.’