yalmakany-marawili
Homeland: Bäniyala
Clan: Madarrpa, Yithuwa group
Moiety: Yirritja
Yalmakany’s father was legendary leader Wakuthi Marawili, who established the homeland for Maḏarrpa people at Yilpara on Blue Mud Bay in the 1970s. Her brother is high profile artist and leader Djambawa Marawili AM. She is married to Waninya Marika OAM and has six children, three boys and three girls. Her son Ishmael Marika is an award winning digital and visual artist who is also Creative Director of The Mulka Project. Yalmakany worked at the Yirrkala Arts Centre in the 1980s. She then worked with the Yirrkala School in servicing the homelands schools until the establishment of the Laynhapuy Homelands School. She then moved back to Yilpara and worked as a ranger with Yirralka Rangers for six years.
She has been a prolific painter of bark and memorial poles for some years now and been a successful protaganist of the variations on a theme – painting the saltwater estate of Baraltja. Her first small show at Annandale in 2009 was successful. She exhibited again with her sister Gurrundul in 2010 which was also well received.
In 2022 following the tragic death of her sister’s daughter Yalmakany moved from her remote homeland Baniyala and settled in Yirrkala. She began painting full time at Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka. Her recent works follow her late mother’s focus of illuminating the seasonal fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants of North East Arnhemland. Her paintings are both beautiful and knowledgable and capture essential knowledge for future generations. In 2023 her work was selected for the NATSIAA awards and shown in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Her first solo show took place at Aboriginal and Pacific Arts in Sydney in 2024.
