Yalangbara c.1960

The early collaborative bark painting Yalangbara c.1960 is a precursor to the famous and monumental Yirrkala bark panels that were part of a landmark 1963 Bark Petition presented to the Australian Parliament in Canberra in an attempt to halt Arnhem Land mining operations. Yalangbara depicts important Dhuwa moiety creation stories that inform Indigenous land and sea management rights in Arnhem Land. This intergenerational work predates Native Title law (established in 1992) and asserts the Yolngu people’s inherent responsibility to protect the land and sea against harm.

The artists — and the parts of the artwork they created — are listed below.

Mawalan 1 Marika
Rirratjingu/Miliwurrwurr, Dhangu people
Australia 1908–67
Artist ('Yalangbara' (1) u.l. cnr)

Wandjuk Marika
Rirratjingu people
Australia 1927–87
Artist ('Yalangbara Djang'kawu with mawalan' (2) u.r. cnr)

Larrtjanga Ganambarr
Ngaymil/Dathiwuy people
Australia c.1932–2000
Artist ('Djanda at Mandiwuy, Arnhem Land' (3) 2nd panel down r.h. side)

Nurryurrngu Marika
Rirratjingu people, Yolngu
Australia unknown – 1979)
Artist ('The clans' (4) 3rd panel down l.h. side)

Mowarra Ganambarr
Dathiwuy people
Australia c.1917–2005
Artist ('Ngarwirwi fishtrap' (5) 2nd panel down l.h. side)

Mithinarri Gurruwiwi
Galpu, Galwurr, Dhangu people
Australia 1929–76
Artist ('Wurrkadi (grubs)' (6) 3rd panel down r.h. side)

Gungguyama Dhamarrandji
Djambarrpuyngu people
Australia c.1916–70
Artist ('Freshwater holes' (7) l.r. cnr)

Munggurruwuy Yunupingu
Gumatj people
Australia c.1907–78
Artist ('Banatja story' (8) l.l. cnr)