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Mili and yunga 2022

Artwork Mili and yunga this artwork made of Dry and earth and pigment on linen, created in 2022-01-01
Accession No.
2023.042
Date Created
2022
Gallery location
Not on public display
Department
Indigenous Australian Art
Dimensions A
153.1 x 152.6cm
Media Category
Painting
Medium
Dry and earth and pigment on linen
Credit Line
Purchased 2023 with funds from the Estate of Jessica Ellis through the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation

In Mili and yunga, Kuku Nyungkul artist Sonya Creek paints her mili (stinging tree) and yunga (green ant) totems. Figuratively depicted, the stinging tree is found in abundance along the Bloomfield River in Wujal Wujal and is often home to the yunga. Also known as weaver ants, the yunga weave leaves together to form nests bound with silk produced by their larvae. Using earth pigments, Creek illustrates the presence of the ants in the work through a web of thousands of baral (track marks) leading from nest to nest across the foliage.

A celebration of the artist’s connection to Country, this work honours her totems — and the memories of her grandmothers, who taught her to collect yunga from the mili nests without injury, and how to prepare them for medicinal use.

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© Sonya Creek/Copyright Agency

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Stories featuring this object

A detail view of a bright, abstract work.
SEEDS AND SOVEREIGNTY

QAGOMA COLLECTION: ‘Seeds and Sovereignty’

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An abstract painting with bright marks made in greens, reds, yellows and pinks on a dark background.
SEEDS AND SOVEREIGNTY

Seasons and songlines

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Exhibitions featuring this object

An installation view of ‘Seeds and Sovereignty’, including works by (l–r) Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Minnie Pwerle (© Minnie Pwerle) and Evelyn McGreen and (foreground) mats by Judy Baypungala, Bonny Burarngarra, Lorna Jin-Gubarangunyja and Shirley Malgarrich, March 2024 / © The artists/Copyright agency (unless noted) / Photograph: C Callistemon, QAGOMA

‘Seeds and Sovereignty’

Mar 2024 - Sep 2024

Other works in this medium

Artwork Indochina this artwork made of Mixed media and collage on canvas, created in 2014-01-01

Indochina 2014

Artwork Bait this artwork made of Oil on medium density fibreboard, created in 2000-01-01

Bait 2000

Artwork Puzzle this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1990-01-01

Puzzle 1990

Reproduction requests

Images of artworks on this website may be used for research, study and other related exceptions as defined by section 40 of the Copyright Act 1968 (as amended) without applying for specific permission. All other uses of the content of this site (where applicable).  Refer these requests to reproductions. For more information, see copyright and reproductions on the QAGOMA website.