• Dimensions: 40 x 40cm (image)
• Cat No. 284-16-3/AP

This work is the result of a workshop conducted with revered Canadian printmaker Paul Machnik which introduced new techniques and materials to the Yirrkala Printspace in 2013.

Gunybi has mainly lived and worked as an artist at Gaṉgaṉ, sometimes based at Dhuruputjpi or Yilpara. His mother Mäpuŋu Gumana originates from here but is now deceased. He came to notice as a ceremonial yiḏaki (didjeridu) player sought after by elders to accompany their sacred song. He accompanied the Yolŋu delegations to the opening of the National Museum in Canberra 2001 and the ḻarrakitj installation at the Sydney Opera House 2002, and played at the opening of Djambawa Marawili’s exhibition in the 2006 Sydney Biennale. Under the tutelage of artists like Gawirrin Gumana and Yumutjin Wunuŋmurra from his mother’s Dhaḻwaŋu clan whilst living on their country he has now assumed ceremonial authority.

He first came to the notice of the Buku-Larrŋgay staff as an artist with a carved and painted Ironwood sculpture of a Wurraṉ or cormorant (a totemic species of his mother clan) in 2002. The wood’s natural shape suggested itself to him and he commenced to reveal the bird within. He then added pigment to achieve the colouring but both, sculpting Ironwood for sale (rather than ceremony), and painting Ironwood are new actions in North East Arnhem land public art. This began a consistent theme of Gunybi following his own inclinations in expressing his vision. He has combined that with a startling innovative flair to produce groundbreaking sacred art that is at once novel and still entirely consistent with Yolŋu maḏayin (law).