- Artist: Gulumbu Yununpingu (dec)
- Art Centre: Buku Larrnggay Mulka
- Region: Arnhem Land
Artwork Story
Gulumbu Yunupingu (c. 1943 – 9 May 2012)
Gulumbu Yunupingu passed away during the final phases of the Seven Sisters project at her home in Gunyangara (Ski Beach). She will be greatly missed by all who new her.
Gulumbu Yunupingu lived at Yirrkala as a child. She went to school in the old Mission house, until she got married to the great artist Mutitjpuy Mununggurr (dec). She had four children.
Gulumbu studied as a health worker with Miwatj health. She had a great knowledge of bush medicine and plant uses. She worked closely with Galarrwuy Yunupingu at the Garma Festival working towards the education of non-Indigenous people.
As an artist Gulumbu worked in many mediums including pandanus weaving, painting on barks, larrakitj (funeral poles) and yidaki. She was also an experienced printmaker in screenprinting, etching and collagraph having works featured in Darwin at the Gapan Gallery. At the Garma Festival where her prints sold out in the first day.
Her art has been widely exhibited all around the world. In 2000 her work was represented at World Expo in Hannover, Germany with an installation of many small barks depicting the seven sisters constellation. In 2004 Gulumbu won First Prize at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) with a stand of larrakitj (funeral poles) depicting the Garak (the universe), a work that combined tradition Yolngu patterns with modern designs. In 2006 her work featured as part of the Quai Branly Museum restoration in Paris.
In 2012 her memorial poles were the centre piece of ‘Marking Time’ an exhibition featuring major works by eleven Australian and international artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Also in 2012 her painting on wood Garrurru (Sail) was installed at Canberra’s Australian National University. Gulumbu Yunupingu was a thoughtful, inspiring, open-hearted and compassionate human being. She will be remembered for her contribution to her community, art and humanity.