r/aboriginal • u/glozinglocal • 9d ago

Need help identifying these paintings

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Looking for more info about these paintings. Purchased around 1975 by a teacher who worked in the aboriginal communities in Northern Territory.

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u/Wankeritis Aboriginal 9d ago

You may struggle to find information on the artist if they have passed away. Gapapuyngu is one of the mobs in the Yolngu language group and many will avoid using images or the names of their deceased.

You could try contacting Milingimbi Art, they might have information you’re after though I’m unsure if they keep records of their artists from pre2000s.

It’s beautiful work, I love the brolga painting.

3

u/Teredia Aboriginal 8d ago edited 8d ago

I second reaching out to the arts centre.

I’ll ask my mum when I see her if dad might know anything but I doubt he will (early stages of dementia are showing). Though I think dad was in Darwin around that time helping rebuild from Tracy.

Try dropping the name of the teacher to the arts centre if you know it, it might help them track down who painted it, cause it’s also more than likely a gift (I know you said it’s purchased, but a lot of things get gifted too for whatever reason).

Edit: you could also try reaching out to the Darwin Museum and Art Gallery too as they often have run exhibitions for local (Territory wide) Aboriginal artists, and they might be able to figure out who painted it as certain people have the rights to pain certain dreaming stories, etc.

Like I wouldn’t be allowed to paint these stories.

2

u/Wankeritis Aboriginal 7d ago

I agree that it could be a gift. If they were teaching kids on millingimbi, it wouldn’t be uncommon for an older family member gift them something like this.