Gurrundul 1 Marawili Deborah

Gurrundul's moiety is Yirritja. Her clan is Madarrpa and her homeland is Yilpara. Gurrundul is a daughter of the esteemed late artist Mrs M. Wirrpanda, sister to community leader Djambawa Marawili, and wife of artist Wanyupi Marika.

For over 16 years, Gurrundul has honed her craft as an artist, initially assisting her husband with his paintings. Gurrundul exhibited alongside her sister Yalmakany in successful exhibitions in 2008 and 2010 and is now emerging as a luminary in her own right.

Gurrundul's artistic pursuits extend beyond the canvas, intertwining seamlessly with her role as an ecologist and ranger with the Yirralka Rangers. While her work in conservation occasionally interrupts her painting career, it serves as a source of inspiration, grounding her artistic practice in the rhythms of the land she holds dear.

In collaboration with her sister and mother, Mrs M. Wirrpanda, Gurrundul embarked on a poignant journey to preserve the cultural and ecological legacy of their Blue Mud Bay country. Recording the significant plants and endangered species of their homeland, they embarked on projects like Djalkiri: We are standing on their lands, and Midawarr: Harvest, which brought together leading Yolngu and Australian artists in a celebration of nature and culture and resulted in large nationally touring exhibitions.

Gurrundul's artwork serves as a visual testament to her deep connection to Country, with her barks and larrakitj often depicting Lulumu, the stingray, and its sacred sites. Through flowing lines and intricate details rendered with natural earth pigments, she breathes life into Madarrpa themes and the Ancestral spirits that inhabit her Yilpara homelands.

In March 2024, Gurrundul's artistic journey reached a new milestone with her first solo exhibition. Gurrundul Marawili stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of her Ancestors, blending tradition with innovation and artistic expression. As she continues to paint the stories of her homeland, her work serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration.


Copyright Kate Owen Gallery, October 2024