Narritjin Maymuru

Narritjin Maymuru (* 1916 ; † 1981 ) belonged to the Djarrakpi Aboriginal tribe in the northeastern Arnhem Land of the Australian Northern Territory .

Narritjin was a bark painter, draftsman, and sculptor who lived in Darwin in the 1950s . There he worked for pearl makers and painted human faces for the anthropologist Ronald Berndt. He also worked for missionaries who used the money they earned from selling the paintings to finance their mission stations and who wanted to educate white Australians about the Yolngu culture . As trade increased and demand grew, leading artists like Maymuru were asked to put exhibitions together. He was committed to ensuring that women could paint and exhibit their works. His daughter became a well-known painter.

His dreamtime paintings included the Guwarrk, Marrngu, and Nyapililngu creatures.

Significant was his participation in the petition in the form of a bark painting of the Yirrkala in 1963. He also worked with the filmmaker Ian Dunlop.

literature

• Macquarie Pen: Anthology of Aboriginal Literature . P. 51. Allen & Unwin. Crows Nest 2008. ISBN 9781741754384 . Available online