Dhambit Munu?gurr
Gunya?ara, NT
This is a portrait of the artist's father, Mutitjpuy Munu?gurr (1932–1993). It captures him painting a very sacred and sensitive area known as Balana. Although the Djapu trace their origin to the Dja?�kawu sisters, they rarely paint this topic or place. The first time it was revealed in public was when Mutitjpuy Munu?gurr entered this bark into the National Aboriginal Art Award (now NATSIAA) in 1990. It won First Prize. This artwork captures him creating it.
About the Artist
Dhambit Munu?gurr comes from a family of distinguished artists. She is the daughter of two past winners of the Telstra NATSIAA, Mutitjpuy Munu?gurr (1932�1993) and Gulumbu Yunupi?u (1943�2012), and her powerful and spontaneous art is underpinned by the deep knowledge of Yol?u Law passed on through her family and community.
However, she is also challenging the boundaries of customary practice by experimenting with new styles, subjects and materials. As a result of a debilitating accident, Dhambit was given permission to use acrylic paint instead of ochres collected from the natural environment as is customary of Yol?u artists. In early 2019, she began to reduce her palette to a striking combination of deep azure blue, black and white, which led to her work gaining rapid recognition. Her work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Dhambit�s work Bees at G�ng�n won the Telstra Bark Painting Award in the 2021 Telstra NATSIAA. She returns as a finalist in the 2022 Awards.
