The National Gallery of Victoria has a rare opportunity to acquire Djapu 2020 by Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, a senior Madarrpa artist renowned for her impressive bark paintings, larrakitj (ceremonial hollow logs) and prints. Comprised of nine larrakitj painted with a bright fuchsia-coloured ink from recycled print cartridges, Noŋgirrŋa’s masterful expression of Djapu iconography is striking and will be a significant addition to the NGV Collection.
In recent years, the NGV has prioritised the acquisition of work by Yolŋu women artists, who before 2000 seldom painted on bark or made larrakitj; these artists are now at the forefront of contemporary art practice. Djapu is Noŋgirrŋa’s first pink larrakitj and the first to blend fuchsia ink and Djapu iconography together. This significant body of work will enhance our representation of contemporary Yolŋu women’s art, our holdings of work by women artists who paint on bark from Buku, as well as Noŋgirrŋa’s practice. As the home of Australia’s leading Indigenous art collection, the inclusion of Noŋgirrŋa Marawili’s work will ensure the NGV continues to strengthen its representation of the breadth and diversity of Indigenous artists practicing today.
We warmly invite our passionate supporters to consider making a contribution towards this exciting acquisition. Your support will have a significant impact on our ability to enrich the lives of our community through remarkable art and design and we greatly appreciate your generosity and dedication to the development of the NGV Collection.
We understand the deep impact of the global health crisis across our community and we appreciate that not everyone is in a position to support right now. We are truly grateful for donations of any size.
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If you would like further information about supporting this acquisition please contact the NGV Foundation team on (+61 3) 8620 2415 or [email protected].
