Lightning and Sea Spray

Noŋgirrŋa Marawili comes from an esteemed artistic family, her father is the renowned Yolŋu leader Mundukul, who made crayon drawing for the anthropologist Ronald Berndt in 1947. For many years Marawili assisted her husband Djutjadjutja Munuŋgurr, by painting the cross hatching for his works. Marawili began her individual artistic practice as a printmaker, but in later years she has refined her skills in painting to become one of the most unique artists working at Yirrkala today.

This diamond design (miny’tji) featured in 'Lightning and Sea Spray' 2014 relates to the clan designs for the saltwater estate of Yathikpa. The net disintegrates in the centre of the work as the edges transform into the sea spray that travels through the air, as the ocean crashes over the large rock formation situated in this body of water. These dotted lines of sea spray may also be synonymous with the gamata or sea grass that dugongs feed upon, and the lightning created by Mundukul, the serpent that lies in these waters.