Biennale of Sydney

Noŋgirrŋa Marawili

Born on the beach at Darrpirra, North of Cape Shield, Australia on the ocean side. As a child lived wakir’ (camping / moving around) at Maḏarrpa clan-related sites between Blue Mud Bay and Groote Eyelandt, Australia
Lives and Works at Yirrkala and Wandawuy, Australia

‘I paint water designs. The water. As it crashes on to the rocks at high tide. Sending the spray into the sky. Rocks which stand strong. And the waves which run and crash upon the rocks. The sea spray. This is the painting I do. You may spy on me and think that I am painting sacred things. This would be a lie.’

Lightning illuminating ocean sea spray as it smashes against large rocks, phenomena linked to Country and waters of cyclones, huge tides and ripping currents all find a place in Noŋgirrŋa Marawili’s imagery. The artist lived nomadically as part of a clan group with a flotilla of canoes between Groote Eyelandt and the mainland. Her father’s name was Mundukul (Lightning Snake), also the name of the serpent (known as Burrut’tji (Water Python)), who lives deep beneath the sea. The pink-toned works reflect a recent innovation – after discovering a discarded magenta print toner on her Country, Marawili began using ink from disused cartridges, reflecting Yolŋu philosophy that suggests, ‘if you paint the land you should use the land’.

At Campbelltown Arts Centre, three painted larrakitj – memorial poles made from hollow Stringybark – show Noŋgirrŋa Marawili’s characteristically dynamic mode of painting that brings forth the interconnected energies of places, layering the tangible and intangible forces, phenomena and atmospheres of environments constantly transforming.

Marawili’s use of pink tones reflects a recent innovation – after discovering a discarded magenta print toner, Marawili began using ink from disused cartridges, reflecting Yolŋu philosophy that suggests, ‘if you paint the land you should use the land’. Her work, while not embodying sacred designs, reflects the philosophies of her Maḏarrpa clan and bears the traces of the places she moves through.

Simple Lentils and Dhal recipe

This week's recipe is shared by Jiva Parthipan from STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors). STARTTS was established in 1988 in Sydney and is a specialist, non-profit organisation that provides culturally relevant psychological treatment and support, and community interventions, to help people and communities heal the scars of torture and refugee trauma, and to rebuild their lives in Australia.

This week’s learning resource focuses on the idea of place, and the things that remind you of a favourite place in your community, in your home country, or even the home that you live in. Food and making food are so important to connecting with and remembering a place that you hold dear.

Jiva is sharing a dhal recipe, his ultimate comfort food. To him, the process of cooking and eating dhal gives him a sense of place and reminds him of home. The best recipes are flexible to make, even if you are missing or wanting to add extra ingredients. Jiva has included some optional ingredients in his dhal recipe.

Each of our education packs will include an at home activity aimed at repurposing, reusing or recycling items found around the home. This week we have prepared a paper flower activity.

Flowers are often given or bought to remember a loved one. Using coloured paper, create your own flowers. Decorate them using coloured pencils or markers and write a message to a friend or family member that you want to remember.

What you will need

1. Different coloured paper
2. Glue
3. Scissors
4. Colour pencils/markers

Here are instructions to create your own flowers. We have made the first paper in this video, but feel free to branch out and make many more! Remember to tag us @NIRINathome and show us what you have made.