Rerrkirrwangu Munungurr

Rerrkirrwanga is the youngest daughter of the late senior Djapu statesman and award-winning artist Djutjadjutja. She was taught to paint by him, in fact many of the paintings attributed to Djutjadjutja in the early nineties were finished by Rerrkirrwanga. She now has the authority to paint for herself and has done so successfully on a large scale with her works being part of major collections. She is part of a close- knit family of art producers that include her elder sister Marrnyula and mother Nonggirrnga.

One of the earliest print artists to produce work at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre. Married to Gumatj artist Yalpi Yunupingu. In 2009 she won Best Bark Painting catagory in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art awards with a particularly fine work depicting her husbands clan designs of fire. These iconic works are becoming a signature for her. Her marwat (the handmade Brush made from fine straight human hair tied to a stick) is finer than anyone’s. She has consciously striven for the finest rendition ever achieved in this medium.

Characteristically, rather than attending the award ceremony she chose to remain at her son’s dhapi or circumcision ceremony. In 2014 she travelled to Santa Fe in the US for her exhibition at the prestigious Chiaroscuro Gallery.

Exhibitions:

1994, The Eleventh National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.

1995, Miny’tji, Buku-Larrnggay, Bark Paintings from the East, National gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

1996, The Thirteenth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.

1997, The Fourteenth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.

1998- March Buku Larrnggay Combined Print Makers First Exhibition Yirrkala

1998- Sept. Buku Larrnggay Combined Print Makers Exhibition. NT University Gallery. Darwin

1998- Nov. Combined Exhibition- Buku Printmakers/ bark paintings- Japingka Gallery Fremantle Perth,

1999- April- Alcaston Gallery- Melbourne. Buku Printmakers and Djambawaw Marawili carvings.

1999- July- Rebecca Hossack Gallery London. Buku Printmakers and Dhalwangu paintings.

1999- Aug- The Original Dreamtime Gallery. Alice Springs. Buku Printmakers.

1999- Hogarth Gallery The Rocks Sydney. Printmakers touring Exhibition.

1999- Boomali- Sydney- Printmakers touring Exhibition.

1999, Saltwater Country – Bark Paintings from Yirrkala. a National tour of 80 paintings recognising

Indigenous Sea Rights. Canberra, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Alice Springs.

2000- Ben Grady Gallery- Canberra- Printmakers touring Exhibition.

2001- Sept- “YIRRKALA SCREENPRINTS” NTU Darwin.

2001-Dec “YIRRKALA”

2002 Marrnyula Mununggurr Exhibition – Raft Artspace Sept 2002, combined work.

2003 Brighton International Art Festival UK

2003 Larrakitj Rebecca Hossack Gallery

2004- Gapan Gallery- Garma Festival. Print Exhibition.

2004- Galuku Gallery- Darwin Festival Print Exhibition.

2007, Togart Contemporary Art Award (NT), Parliament House, Darwin, NT

2007, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin, NT.

2007, Galuku Gallery, Festival of Darwin,

2007, Bukulungthunmi – Coming Together, One Place, Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT

2008 New Generations Yirrkala artists, Creative Economy, Brisbane

2009, 26th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, MAGNT, Darwin, NT – winner best bark painting.

2010- Finalist TOGART NT Contemporary Art Award, Darwin NT

2012 Prism Annandale Galleries Sydney

2013 Prized Nomad Art Darwin

2014 Chirascuro Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

2014 Gurtha Annandale Galleries Sydney

Collections:

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

JW Kluge Collection, Morven Estate, Virginia USA

National Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW