Nyaluŋ, Dundiwuy #2 Munuŋgurr (dec)
Miny’tji (Yolŋu Patterns)
48.5 x 70cm Paper: MAGNANI PESCIA 56 x 76.5cm

ID: 84-16

AS TOLD BY THE ARTIST:

In the old days Yolŋu people lived within the pattern of laws, which were passed down through the generations and are still with us today.

The patterns that go through songs, dances, art, (ceremonial) crying and sculpture all relate to each other. Pattern is the beginning, middle and end of Yolŋu life.

Patterns can be Yolŋu or Balanda patterns e.g. stripes, dots, lines, curves, rectangles, diamonds, squares, circles. But our Yolŋu law patterns tell us a story.

If you do a painting from your own clan or tribe you have to represent your own design (miny’tji) and not someone else’s or another clan’s. This is very strict in our culture but if you are a custodian of a design then yes you can use it.

My print is about the various patterns that we Yolŋu use in our art.
Printed 2004

FMP 6P