Mawalan marika biography graphic organizer

Mawalan Marika, head of the Rirratjingu clan, from North East Arhnem land, is considered one of the true ‘greats’ of the bark tradition. Born into an era before intensive European c olonisation, he became a principle informant to anthropologists Charles Mountford, Roland Berndt and Catherine Berndt in the production of much of the early literature on Arnhem Land song poetry.

Why did the macassans come to australia

Why did the macassans come to australia

Who worked closely with Mawalan 1 Marika and Wandjuk Marika at Yirrkala in – Other works include bark paintings from the s and a series of.

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More recently, he has accordingly received the recognition he so deserves with three biographies published, and three major exhibitions mounted.

That Tuckson also formed a close friendship with a great Yirrkala artist Mawalan.

He was one of the first painters commissioned by the missionary Wilbur Chaseling, and produced artworks for Dr.Stuart Scougall and Tony Tuckson at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney in the late 1950’s. Yet his life and work testify to an ambiguous relationship with the colonial presence.

He was amongst the ringleaders in the fight for Aboriginal land rights in the 1960’s and 1970’s playing an instrumental role in the production of the ‘Bark Petition’ to the Commonwealth Parliament, used most effectively as testament to their claim over their land and consequent right to negotiate th