Birriku

Milingimbi artists are predominently known for their bark paintings, weavings of Bamagral (conical mats), Dhomala (canoe sails), Git (skirts), bathi (baskets) as well as Djaḻumbu (hollow log coffin), Baṉumbirr (morning star), Mokuy (spirit figures) and Angidjadjiya (jungle vine fish trap). However in recent years they have expanded their practices to include print making, jewellery and large scale collaborative projects.

The Milngimbi Artist Memorial was conceived in 2018 following the sudden death of an important artist and each year since an etching set is created to honour a specific clan and the artists that have passed away. The artists here, Judy Lirririnyin, Joe Dhamanydji, Darryl Yatjany, Harry Wirrimbitj, Colin Yerrilil, Bobby Dhalmurrawuy and Marcia Biya’ŋu are all at varying stages in their careers and their styles evidently different, yet there is a visual poetry to the construction of each artist’s etched copper plate prints.

Judy Lirririnyin is the daughter of the renowned artist Binyinyuwuy. She is the chairperson of Milingimbi arts and culture and was inspired to continue her fathers’ legacy by painting her clan designs following the 2016 exhibition Art from Milingimbi: taking memories back. In this print she has etched the Djambarrpuyŋu clan’s Baṉumbirr (morning star), a subject also explored by her father. The morning star is connected to Djarraya and Luŋurruŋur countries on the Napier Peninsula south-east of Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island) and is gifted between clans during an exchange ceremony.

Joe Dhamanydji is the son of renowned artist and Gupapuyŋu cultural leader Tom Djäwa. Dhamanydji explores many of the same subjects as his father including the Manburi Birrinymal (catfish bones) which is related to a burial ceremony and referenced in Burala (wings of the diver duck) and Manpiri (catfish) by Djawa.