Jimmy Wululu (c. 1936–2005) was an Aboriginal Australian artist of the Gupapuyngu language group.[1] He was a major contributor to the Aboriginal Memorial[2] and he was one of the major painters of the 1980s from his language group. He is known for his bark paintings and his memorial poles. His works have been featured in numerous significant exhibits all over the world.[3]

Jimmy Wululu
Born1936
Died5 October 2005
Known forBark painting, memorial poles
AwardsRothman's Foundation Award, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, 1989

Life edit

Wululu was born in 1936 and he died on 5 October 2005.[3] He is an artist of the Gupapuyngu language group and part of the Yirritja moiety[4] and he is from Arnhem Land in Australia.[1] He grew up at the Milingimbi Methodist Mission and he first worked as a laborer and a builder.[3] He started painting professionally in the late 1970s[3] and his works are said to be in the traditional Arnhem Land tradition.[5]

Career edit

Wululu started professionally painting in the late 1970s.[3] He is best known for his bark art and his art on hollow poles.[6][5] His bark art is of the traditional Aboriginal style, which means that these bark arts are made of ochre and sheets of bark.[5] He worked with David Malangi.[3] Wululu has rights in Balmbi country to paint via his mother's mother.[7] This means that he is entitled to paint the Yathalamarra stories. He is best known for his catfish bone designs on his bark and poles.[7]

Exhibitions edit

Wululu's work has been included in major exhibitions such as the Dreaming Exhibition in the United States in 1988.[3] His works have been a part of many other exhibitions. Fifteen of his poles were featured in the Magiciens de la Terre show in Paris in 1989.[3] Some of the other exhibitions that his other works have been a part of are The Continuing Traditions (1989), I Shall Never Become a White Man at the MCA, Sydney (1994), Aratjara (1993-1994), and Paintings and Sculptures from Ramingining: Jimmy Wululu and Philip Gudthaykudthay[a] at the Drill Hall Gallery (1992).[3]

Collections edit

Works edit

  • Djaranbu ceremony (1962)[1]
  • Catfish and herringbone (1987-1988)[13]
  • Catfish and eel design (1987)[14]
  • Niwuda - Yirritja Honey[15]
  • Hollow Log Coffin with Honey and Catfish Designs (1987)[16]
  • Hollow Log Coffin with Catfish and Eel Designs (1987)[17]
  • Clan Well (1975-1976)[18]

Significant exhibitions edit

  • Dreaming Exhibition (1988)[3]
  • Magiciens de le Terre Show (1989)[3]
  • The Continuing Traditions (1989)[3]
  • I Shall Never Become a White Man (1994)[3]
  • Aratjara (1993-1994)[3]
  • Paintings and Sculptures from Ramingining: Jimmy Wululu and Philip Gudthaykudthay (1992)[3]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Philip Gudthaykudthay is an artist of Bula'Bula Arts in Ramingining.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Djaranbu ceremony, (1962) by Jimmy Wululu". www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. ^ "World of Dreamings". nga.gov.au. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Jimmy Wululu, b. 1936". National Portrait Gallery people. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Memorial". nga.gov.au. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Jimmy Wululu - Australia (Aboriginal), Artist - LookingConfident". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The Aboriginal Memorial". nga.gov.au. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "No Ordinary Place : The art of David Malangi". nga.gov.au. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Ramingining art centre". Bula'Bula Arts. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Djaranbu ceremony, (1962) by Jimmy Wululu". www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Jimmy Wululu". National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Jimmy Wululu | Artists | NGV". www.ngv.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Jimmy WULULU". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  13. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Catfish and herringbone". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  14. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Catfish and eel design". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  15. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Niwuda - Yirritja Honey". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  16. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Hollow log coffin with honey and catfish designs". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  17. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Hollow log coffin with catfish and eel design". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  18. ^ Wululu, Jimmy. "Clan well". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 4 May 2020.