Nyapanyapa’s paintings—natural earth pigments on bark—are unique for paintings from the Yirrkala region in their energetic roughness and elemental wildness. They are openly playful even in the use of symmetries.

Exhibition Dates: 18 September – 11 October 2008

Nyapanyapa’s paintings—natural earth pigments on bark—are unique for paintings from the Yirrkala region in their energetic roughness and elemental wildness. They are openly playful even in the use of symmetries. They are unusual in that they depict actual events from the artist’s own life as opposed to the inherited stories of tradition. Scenes include the drama of when, in 1975, Nyapanyapa was mauled by a water buffalo, her subsequent trip to Darwin Hospital by plane as well as more routine happenings from everyday life and depictions of animals and landscapes.

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu (b. c. 1945) lives in remote North-East Arnhem Land. Once upon a time … is her first solo exhibition of large bark paintings. An exhibition of smaller barks was held at Nomad Art Productions in Darwin in June 2008. In August this year she attracted critical acclaim when she won the Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award at the annual Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. Once upon a time … is Nyapanyapa’s first exhibition at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.

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Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Gatapangawuy Dhawu 3, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 52 x 166 cm; enquire
Gatapangawuy Dhawu 3, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
52 x 166 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Artist with Granddaughters and White Apples, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 77 x 159 cm; enquire
Artist with Granddaughters and White Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
77 x 159 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Japanese in Port Bradshaw, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 55 x 155 cm; enquire
Japanese in Port Bradshaw, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
55 x 155 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Snake Eggs, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 49 x 130 cm; enquire
Snake Eggs, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
49 x 130 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Banyan Trees and Bulldozers, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 181 x 43 cm; enquire
Banyan Trees and Bulldozers, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
181 x 43 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Mungurrawuy Saved by Dolphins, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 156 x 41 cm; enquire
Mungurrawuy Saved by Dolphins, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
156 x 41 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Hunting Stingray at Birany Birany, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 58 x 194 cm; enquire
Hunting Stingray at Birany Birany, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
58 x 194 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Wild Apple Orchard, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 63 x 193 cm; enquire
Wild Apple Orchard, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
63 x 193 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Airlift to Darwin Hospital, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 53 x 165 cm; enquire
Airlift to Darwin Hospital, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
53 x 165 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 2, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 42 x 210 cm; enquire
Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 2, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
42 x 210 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 1, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 45 x 90 cm; enquire
Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 1, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
45 x 90 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Japanese in Port Bradshaw 2, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 93 x 157 cm; enquire
Japanese in Port Bradshaw 2, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
93 x 157 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu They put me on a plane, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 184 x 90 cm; enquire
They put me on a plane, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
184 x 90 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Gatapangawuy Dhawu 2, 2008; 3307Q; natural earth pigments on bark; 35 x 171 cm; enquire
Gatapangawuy Dhawu 2, 2008
3307Q
natural earth pigments on bark
35 x 171 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Collecting Eggs, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 51 x 118 cm; enquire
Collecting Eggs, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
51 x 118 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Japanese Submarine, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 41 x 130 cm; enquire
Japanese Submarine, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
41 x 130 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Collecting Wild Apples, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 150 x 63 cm; enquire
Collecting Wild Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
150 x 63 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Gatapangawuy Dhawu 1, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 187 x 57 cm; enquire
Gatapangawuy Dhawu 1, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
187 x 57 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Biranybirany, 2008; 3242A; natural earth pigments on bark; 136 x 54 cm; enquire
Biranybirany, 2008
3242A
natural earth pigments on bark
136 x 54 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu 2 Wild Apple Trees, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 81 x 35 cm; enquire
2 Wild Apple Trees, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
81 x 35 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Buffalos in the Apples, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 152 x 72 cm; enquire
Buffalos in the Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
152 x 72 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu 4 Buffalos 4 Wendys, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 112 x 62 cm; enquire
4 Buffalos 4 Wendys, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
112 x 62 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu 3 Wild Apple Trees, 2008; natural earth pigments on bark; 40 x 94 cm; enquire
3 Wild Apple Trees, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
40 x 94 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Bungul Djama Ceremony, 2008; 3372K; natural earth pigments on bark; 167 x 70 cm; enquire
Bungul Djama Ceremony, 2008
3372K
natural earth pigments on bark
167 x 70 cm
Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu Mokuy, 2008; incised Beech Hibiscus, natural earth pigments; 15 - 50 cm; Edition of 15; enquire
Mokuy, 2008
incised Beech Hibiscus, natural earth pigments
15 - 50 cm
Edition of 15