Gulumbu Yunupingu

Born| 1943

Gunyangara, Northern Territory

Died| (2012-05-10)10 May 2012

Gove, Northern Territory

Nationality| Australian
Parents|

* Mungurrawuy Yunupingu (father)
* Bakili (mother)

Awards| National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (2004)

Gulumbu Yunupingu (1943 – 9 May 2012), after her death known as Djotarra or Ms Yunupingu, was an Australian Aboriginal artist and women's leader from the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia.

## Early life and family[edit]

Born in Gunyangara, Northern Territory in 1943, Yunupingu was a member of the Gumatj clan and spoke the Gumatj language.[1]

As the eldest daughter[2] of artist and Gumatj leader Mungurrawuy Yunupingu, she was sister to Aboriginal leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu and singer Mandawuy Yunupingu (of Yothu Yindi).[3] Her sisters included artists Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu, Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, and Eunice Djerrkngu Yunupingu (c.1945–2022),[4][5][6] and Barrupu Yunupingu (1948–2012[7]).[8]

## Artworks[edit]

In 1999, together with her sister Gaymala and Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Gulumbu was engaged to paint a large film set for the film Yolngu Boy, based on the historic Yirrkala Church Panels.[3]

In 2012, a painting on wood titled Garrurru (Sail), weighing a tonne and measuring seven by three metres, was installed at the Australian National University,[9] at the Hedley Bull Centre for World Politics.[10] The word garrurru is the Yolngu word for "sail", and derives from the word for sailcloth in the Makassarese language.[11] Yunupingu appeared in public at the launch for the last time, despite failing health.[12]

## Exhibitions and collections[edit]

Her art has been widely exhibited all around the world, and was the opening exhibit in the newly-restored $370 million Quai Branly Museum in Paris.[13]

Her work is also exhibited in the National Gallery of Australia.[1]

In 2018 Yunupingu's work was included in the exhibition Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia at The Phillips Collection.[14]

## Awards[edit]

Yunupingu has won many awards for her work. In 2004 she won the 21st National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for a piece entitled Garak, The Universe, which consists of three memorial poles, decorated in her own style, which combines traditional Yolngu designs with her own modern interpretation.[9][2][15]

## Death[edit]

She died on 9 May 2012 at her home in Gunyangara (Ski Beach), after lapsing into a coma some time before. Given her world-wide renown, her family gave consent to her name appearing in text, but asked that her name is not spoken, and no image of her shown. She can be referred to as Djotarra or Ms Yunupingu.[12][16][17]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "National Gallery of Australia". National Gallery of Australia. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
2. ^ a b "Father's 'wishing stars' inspires a winning work". The Age. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
3. ^ a b Angel, Anita (3 February 2011). "(Nancy) Gaymala Yunupingu". Charles Darwin University. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
4. ^ Eccles, Jeremy (1 July 2022). "Mrs D Yunupingu 1945/2022". Aboriginal Art Directory. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
5. ^ "Ms. D. (Djerrkngu) Eunice Yunupingu (c.1945 - 2022)". Alcaston Gallery. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
6. ^ "Archibald Prize Archibald 2021 work: Me and my sisters by Eunice Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu". Art Gallery of NSW. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
7. ^ "Barrupu Yunupingu". Alcaston Gallery (in Polish). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
8. ^ "Bark Ladies centres female Yolŋu artists". Art Guide Australia. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
9. ^ a b Australian National University (19 March 2012). "Life-size Yunupingu artwork delivered by crane". Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
10. ^ Streak, Diana (29 March 2012). "Artist's long journey to see her works on display". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
11. ^ "Artwork paints a picture of Australia's ancient links to Asia". ANU College of Asia & the Pacific. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
12. ^ a b Eccles, Jeremy (12 June 2012). "Artist saw the stars crying". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2022. "In recognition of her international importance the family have consented to her name appearing in text, but requested that no image be shown, and that her name not be uttered. Instead she can be referred to as Djotarra or Ms Yunupingu."
13. ^ Button, James (20 June 2006). "Paris infused with indigenous spirit". The Age. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
14. ^ "Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia". The Phillips Collection. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
15. ^ "Yunupingu, Gulumbu". OzArts. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
16. ^ Eccles, Jeremy; Peers, Juliette (1 September 2014). "Gulumbu Yunupingu (1943-2012)". Artlink Magazine. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
17. ^ "Yolngu elder passes". NT News. News Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.

## Further reading[edit]

* Fitzgerald, M. (2022). "Mirrored realms: The bark ladies of Yirrkala". Art Monthly Australasia, (331), 86–91.
* Salvestro, Denise Yvonne (April 2016). Printmaking by Yolngu artists of Northeast Arnhem Land: 'Another way of telling our stories' (PhD). Australian National University.
* Gulumbu Yunupingu at the National Gallery of Australia

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany

Artists|

* Victoria
* 2

People|

* Trove

Other|

* SNAC

*[c.]: circa