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Lot 36

Gulumbu Yunupingu
(circa 1945-2012)
Ganyu, 2009

Important Australian Art

17 November 2021, 18:00 AEDT

Melbourne, Armadale

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Gulumbu Yunupingu (circa 1945-2012)

Ganyu, 2009
inscribed verso: '#3626Z GULUMBU / 1009 GUR'
natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
117.0 x 46.0cm (46 1/16 x 18 1/8in).

Footnotes

PROVENANCE
Buku-Larrngay Arts, Yirrkala, Northern Territory
Redot Gallery, Singapore
Private collection, Singapore

According to the accompanying Buku-Larrngay Arts documentation, this work refers to two stories - one relating to two sisters, Guthayguthay and Nhayay, who argued over a man called Marrngu. The sisters turned into stars that sit under the Milky Way. When the season is cooler and the sisters sit closer to one another at the fire, more stars are visible. The second story relates to seven sisters hunting in a canoe called Djulpan. They can be seen in the sky of a night, seven stars that come out together as well as three brothers who came behind them, following them. There are special stars in the sky which Yolngu call wishing stars. They give Yolngu bush tucker, they multiply the foods in the sea.

When she looks at the stars, Gulumbu thinks about the universe, all around, and about every tribe, every colour. In every corner of the world people can look up and see the stars. This is Gulumbu's vision – in her art, she focuses on the link between all people everywhere. The link between people on earth and stars in the sky.

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