- Mundara Koorang
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Australian Aboriginal artist Mundara Koorang
Mundara Koorang is an Australian Aboriginal artist, designer, teacher, elder, actor, and author.[1]
Contents
Biography
Mundara was born in 1952 in the Eora (Sydney) NSW area and is a descendant of the Gamilaroi people. Mundara’s grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother was all born in the Barwon River, Brewarrina area.
In 1992 Mundara owned and operated ‘Jay’s Auto Stables’ and was recognized as one of the best spray painters in the vehicle industry. Due to illness he had to close the business and hence began his education. His first introduction to education began with a short security license course at Naamoro in Sydney where he also ran panel beating and spray courses for young Indigenous men. Shortly afterwards Mundara completed a media course at Naamoro and won a scholarship to the Center of Photography, to undertake a course in black-and-white photography. In 1993 Mundara completed a CABE course at the Eora College in Chippendale, Sydney, a CGE course in 1994 and a Fine Arts Course in 1995. In 1995 he won the Faculty Award for Aboriginal studies, being the first Indigenous person to do so as well as the Qantas Encouragement Award at the AJC.
In 1996 Mundara began his Bachelors Degree in Adult Education which he completed in 1998 at the University of Technology in Sydney. Mundara was chosen in 1998 to represent the University at the International First Nations Indigenous Youth Education Conference in Wellington, New Zealand. He went on to become a founding member of its alumni organization. Mundara also taught several TAFE classes during that year.
In 1999 Mundara began a Masters Degree, discovering after one year that he was an insulin-dependent diabetic. He took 2000 off to recover and returned to the University of Technology in 2001 to restart from the beginning a Masters Degree in Indigenous Social Policy, which he has completed. Mundara is on sabbatical from a Doctorate of Education.
Mundara is the Managing Director of the House of Koorang Pty Ltd, a wholly owned and operated Indigenous art and design wholesale and manufacturing Company, the largest Aboriginal owned wholesale and manufacturing company. He was also a director of NIAAA at the request of the Late Dr Charles Perkins. The first product in the market place to contain the ‘Label of Authenticity’ was Mundara’s.
He taught literacy & numeracy, science, cultural studies, legislation, art & drawing and history at TAFE and outreach schools. Mundara is currently the only known male Aboriginal educator in a correctional facility, where he teaches literacy & numeracy and cultural studies.
The 'Indigenous Cultural Protocol Request Form' was created by Mundara for all Indigenous organisations and communities to use when approached for photographs,items,interviews,dance,songs and images.
Exhibitions
Mundara has had numerous major and collective exhibitions internationally and nationally and has won many art, photographic, and sculpture awards. These include the inaugural ‘Sorry Day’ Poster competition, the 1999 David O’Chin Photographic Award and a commendation from the David Unaipon Writers Award for a book of poetry entitled ‘Say You're Sorry’.
In 1995 he was invited by the Australian Ambassador in Bonn, Germany to hold a major exhibition in Cologne, Germany as part of ‘Experience 95’. This exhibition opened the door for future Indigenous contemporary artists to exhibit in Europe. His artwork was exhibited at one of the first Australian Indigenous exhibitions in Moscow, Russia. On his return to Sydney NSW he held the largest sole artist exhibition in Australia at the Woolloomooloo Gallery.
The cover and illustrations for the widely used law book Indigenous People and the Law in Australia were created by Mundara, as well as the illustrations for the ‘Mabo Land Rights’ Packages for law students and the community.
‘Alcheringa Spirit’ an Australian Limestone sculpture displayed in the foyer of the ATSIC Commission in Sydney was sculpted by Mundara.
Other activities
Mundara has donated to and sponsored a multitude of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community organizations, such as the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, and the Cancerian Foundation. His sponsorships include trophies for the South-east Queensland Indigenous Sports Awards, respite centres, the Beenleigh, Beaudesert and Logan Combined Housing, children's hospitals,Link-up, Juvenile Justice and state primary and high schools. Mundara sponsorsed a boxer competing in an overseas tournament,an athlete attending the Canberra Sports Clinic, and an Illawarra Indigenous rugby team, just to name a few.
One of Mundara’s primary passions is copyright law and justice for Indigenous contemporary visual and performing artists, and changes to the legislation that permits the importation of imported products from Asia that are passed off as authentic Aboriginal products. His work in this area consists of sharing information on copyright law, contract building and negotiation, and all facets of beginning and operating Indigenous businesses.
As an actor Mundara has appeared in the ABC’s mini series ‘Heartlands’, GP, Water Rats, Police Rescue, Wildside and a feature film called Race the Sun starring James Belushi.
In 2005 Mundara published a Dreamtime story entitled The Little Platypus and the Fire Spirit.[2]
Footnotes
- ^ "Website Detail - Mundara Koorang". Government of Australia Culture and Recreation Portal. Archived from the original on 2008-07-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20080726151458/http://cultureandrecreation.gov.au/wsd/2858.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ "The Little Platypus and the Fire Spirit". Aboriginal Studies. On 16 March 2009 Mundara and his wife opened their first retail gallery store at House of Koorang Gallery, Shop 1/90 Worrigee Street, Nowra NSW 2541. Press. http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/aboriginal_studies_press/find_a_book/children/the_little_platypus. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
External links
Categories:- 1952 births
- Living people
- People from Sydney
- Australian children's writers
- Australian Aboriginal artists
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