Muluymuluy Wirrpanda Buḻwutja & Gunga (Water Yam & Pandanus): In partnership with Buku-Larrnggay Mulka

Art meets ecology in this solo exhibition by Northeast Arnhem Land bark painter Muluymuluy Wirrpanda. 
Born in 1959, Muluymuluy is a painter, ecologist and ranger with the Yirralka Rangers of Northeast Arnhem Land. She is a matriarch for her family and is constantly moving from ceremony to ceremony to participate in the Yolŋu spiritual cycle.  

Sister of the late painter, cultural leader and botanical artist, Mulkun Wirrpanda (1947-2021), Muluymuluy comes from a large family of well-known bark painters, including her nieces Gurrundul and Yalmakany Marawili. As with those artists, she works with their illustrious art centre Buku-Larrnggay Mulka at Yirrkala. 

 Here, the lace-like patterns of her paintings weave over their bark surfaces in soft pinks, tans and monochrome ochres as she relates the stories and uses of two important plants of her region: the buḻwutja (water yam) and gunga (pandanas). In documenting their botanical features, traditional use and the creation stories relating to these plants, Muluymuluy aims to preserve knowledge of them for future generations.  Each painting details an extensive cultural history while also demonstrating the wide range of applications of these plants in weaving, as bandages and other practical uses and especially their medicinal and health-giving properties.   

 Muluymuluy has been exhibiting since 2018, however her painting career is frequently interrupted by work as a dedicated ranger, educator and cultural leader. Her work was included in the extensive exhibition Yolŋu Power at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2025 and Miwatj Yolŋu - Sunrise People, Bundanon, NSW, 2024. This is Muluymuluy's first solo exhibition in Victoria 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muluymuluy Wirrpanda - a history 

As occupants of the Southern range of the Yolŋu nation Muluymuluy’s Dhuḏi Djapu clan was more severely affected by the chaos and violence of the frontier wars at the beginning of the last century than others. The killing of Constable McColl at Woodah Island by Dhakiyarr in 1934 was a major inflection point. Dhakiyarr’s incarceration, acquittal by the High Court and subsequent “disappearance” allegedly at the hands of the police tore apart the small family. (See 2025 ABC report here) 

Accordingly, Muluymuluy was born at Ngukurr (Roper River). Hundreds of kilometres south of her country in the settled zone. In this place filled with refugees from the chaos and violence of a colonial conflict people did not speak their own language but a Kriol that allowed for mutual communication.

Even to this day there are members of the Dhudi Djapu clan spread across Arnhem Land and unable to speak their language in places like Bulman and Numbulwar. Muluymuluy was fortunate though.

She was the young wife of Wakuthi Marawili. In the  1970s Marawili had launched an audacious plan to return his family to their homeland at Yilpara. He established a homeland there in the place he had grown up before the coming of the armed intruders.  Wakuthi lived to be one of the oldest men in Arnhem land. He was known as Banbay - "Blind one" because of his poor eyesight. He passed away in 2005.  His sons Djambawa and Nuwandjali have a large role in the day-to-day management of the large Maḏarrpa clan homeland, Yilpara. Muluymuluy has worked with them in her art as well as under Wakuthi’s direction to produce important Maḏarrpa clan  paintings. 

After Wakuthi's passing Muluymuluy moved to care for Dr. Gawirriṉ Gumana AO at Gäṉgan until his death. She kept close company with her sister Mulkuṉ and was influenced to adopt botanic themes during the collaboration between Mulkuṉ and John Wolselely. Muluymuluy is a matriarch for her family and is constantly moving from ceremony to ceremony to participate in the Yolŋu spiritual cycle. She supports her family through her art.
Will Stubbs
Co-ordinator, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka                  _

VIEW CATALOGUE HERE 

OPENING EVENT: Curators'  Introduction and opening drinks

Saturday February 7 at 2 pm
Book: everywhenart.eventbrite.com.au 
EXHIBITION DATES : February 7-March 1, 2026