Yalangbara: art of the Djang'kawu

'Yalangbara' is the first Indigenous art publication to focus upon one significant ancestral site. It has been produced on behalf of members of the Rirratjingu clan to celebrate Yalangbara (Port Bradshaw), the landing site of the Djang’kawu ancestors; the law-givers and progenitors of the people throughout north-east Arnhem Land. Their creative activities are depicted by three generations of talented Marika artists, including Mawalan 1, Mathaman, Milirrpum, Roy, Wandjuk, Banduk, Dhuwarrwarr, Mawalan 2, Jimmy Barrmula and Wanyubi Marika. The accompanying text examines aspects of Yolngu (Aboriginal) aesthetics and material culture, history, myth, land ownership and copyright to show the complex interrelationship of these themes in Yolngu life. Margie West AM holds the honorary position of Emeritus Curator of Aboriginal Art at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. She is an anthropologist with over thirty years of curatorial experience in Indigenous art. Since 1972 she has curated over forty semi-permanent and touring Aboriginal art exhibitions and has published extensively on Aboriginal art. Some of the recent publications she has edited include 'Transitions' (2000), 'Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award: Celebrating 20 years' (2004), 'ReCoil, Change and Exchange in Coiled Fibre Art' (2007), she was also co-editor with Hetti Perkins on the 'One Sun One Moon' publication (2006).