Ḏulaku (large rock wallaby)
1992
Medium
earth pigments on Kapok (Ceiba sp.)
Measurements
98.2 × 16.2 × 22.7 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Ruth and George Miller, 2025
© The Estate of Durndiwuy Wanambi, courtesy of Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre, Yirrkala
Gallery location
Gallery 5
Level 2, NGV Australia
About this work
This work embodies Durndiwuy Wanambi’s deep knowledge of Country and ancestral law. Carved and painted with intricate clan designs, Ḏulaku represents the rock wallaby as a spiritual being, intertwined with sacred songlines and the custodial obligations of the Marrakulu clan of north-east Arnhem Land. The form of the sculpture merges naturalistic contours with symbolic abstraction. Through this work, Wanambi not only preserves cultural memory but also asserts the presence of Yolŋu law and life in the face of colonial disruption.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Yirrkala, Northern Territory
Accession Number
2025.721
Department
First Nations Australia