garawan-waambi
Homeland: Gangan
Clan: Marrakulu
Moiety: Dhuwa
This artist is married to Manini Gumana, a daughter of Dhalwaŋu leader, Dhakawal Gumana who was the brother of Gawirrin Gumana AO and son of Birrikitji Gumana a senior ritual leader. Garawan and his family continue to live and work at Gaṉgaṉ and he has emerged as one of the most gifted of the new generation of artists based there. His father was Munuparriwuy Wanambi (1920-73) one of the artists of the Yirrkala Church Panels (himself a son of Garrarrambu one of Thomson’s subjects). His mother was Gawirrin’s sister Guthikpuy (their mother from the Dhuḏi Djapu clan). Garawan, a Marrakulu clansman, says that “Wayuŋga brought me up so I’m also adopted to the Marraŋu clan.” The Marrakulu and Marraŋu are closely related clans through maḏayin (sacred clan mythologies and law). After his father’s death Garawan was guided by Yaŋgarriny Wunuŋmurra and through this connection paints Marraŋu, the counterpart of Marrakulu from the other side of Arnhem Bay.
A major solo exhibition of his work was shown at Niagara Galleries in Melbourne 2009. This was followed by the successful One Clan Three Hands at the same venue in 2011. He was a finalist in the Kate Challis RAKA Award in 2013. In 2014 he won the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Best Bark painting prize. In 2015 he had exhibitions with Annandale at the Sydney Art Fair and with Josh Milani in Brisbane.
Since 2021 Garawan has been represented by Hugo Michell Gallery in Adelaide and has been involved in several major solo and institutional group exhibitions both national and internationally.
