Wandjuk Marika

Wandjuk Marika OBE, born 1927, died 1987, was an Australian Aboriginal painter, actor, composer and land rights activist. He was a member of the Riratjingu clan of the Yolngu people of north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. [MARIKA, Wandjuk, “Foreword”, in ISAACS, Jennifer, "Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History", 1980, ISBN 0-7254-0884-7, p.5] [ [http://collection.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/results.do;jsessionid=5EEAAE65B7D9953706A6CE699D8A05E6?view=detail&dept=aboriginal%2Fbark&db=object&browse=aboriginal%2Fbark%2Fbrowse&id=12772 Biography of Wandjuk Marika] , Art Gallery of New South Wales]

His paintings expressed his people's traditional religious beliefs, and included "Djang'kawu Story" (1960) and "Birth of the Djang'kawu Children of Yelangbara" (1982). [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/wandjuk-marika-1?cat=entertainment "Wandjuk Marika"] , "The Concise Grove Dictionary of Art", Oxford University Press] [ [http://collection.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/results.do;jsessionid=5EEAAE65B7D9953706A6CE699D8A05E6?view=detail&dept=aboriginal%2Fbark&db=object&browse=aboriginal%2Fbark%2Fbrowse&id=12772 Biography of Wandjuk Marika] , Art Gallery of New South Wales] Djang'kawu is the founding ancestor of the Riratjingu in traditional stories. [MARIKA, Wandjuk, “Foreword”, in ISAACS, Jennifer, "Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History", 1980, ISBN 0-7254-0884-7, p.5]

He co-founded the Aboriginal Arts Board in 1973, and became Chairman in 1979. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/wandjuk-marika-1?cat=entertainment "Wandjuk Marika"] , "The Concise Grove Dictionary of Art", Oxford University Press] He was awarded the Order of the British Empire that same year. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/dynasties/txt/s982928.htm "Wandjuk Marika"] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, December 1, 2003]

His name was given to the Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award, a category of the prestigious National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, awarded annually by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. [ [http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/museums/exhibitions/natsiaa/24natsiaa.html "24th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award"] , Northern Territory government website] His portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra [ [http://www.portrait.gov.au/static/coll_767Wandjuk+Marika.php National Portrait Gallery] ] , and several of his paintings feature in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. [ [http://collection.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/results.do;jsessionid=5EEAAE65B7D9953706A6CE699D8A05E6?view=detail&dept=aboriginal%2Fbark&db=object&browse=aboriginal%2Fbark%2Fbrowse&id=12772 Biography of Wandjuk Marika] , Art Gallery of New South Wales]

As an actor, Marika appeared in the films "Where the Green Ants Dream" (1984) and "Initiation" (1987). He also appeared in the television miniseries "Women of the Sun". He was both actor and composer in "Where the Green Ants Dream". [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0547398/ Wandjuk Marika] on IMDB]

He was the author of "The Aboriginal Children's History of Australia". [MARIKA, Wandjuk, "The Aboriginal Children's History of Australia", Rigby, ISBN 0727002368, 1977]

Marika wrote frequent but unsuccessful letters to the Australian federal government to protest against mining activities on Yolngu lands. [ [http://collection.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/results.do;jsessionid=5EEAAE65B7D9953706A6CE699D8A05E6?view=detail&dept=aboriginal%2Fbark&db=object&browse=aboriginal%2Fbark%2Fbrowse&id=12772 Biography of Wandjuk Marika] , Art Gallery of New South Wales]

Wandjuk Marika was the uncle of Raymattja Marika. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/dynasties/txt/s982928.htm "Wandjuk Marika"] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, December 1, 2003]

Further reading

* "Wandjuk Marika: Life Story", by Jennifer ISAACS, University of Queensland Press, ISBN 0702225649, 1995

References