Nyapanyapa Yunupingu

Once Upon a Time

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.

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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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Gatapangawuy Dhawu 3, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
52 x 166 cm

Artist with Granddaughters and White Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
77 x 159 cm

Japanese in Port Bradshaw, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
55 x 155 cm

Snake Eggs, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
49 x 130 cm

Banyan Trees and Bulldozers, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
181 x 43 cm

Mungurrawuy Saved by Dolphins, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
156 x 41 cm

Hunting Stingray at Birany Birany, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
58 x 194 cm

Wild Apple Orchard, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
63 x 193 cm

Airlift to Darwin Hospital, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
53 x 165 cm

Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 2, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
42 x 210 cm

Bukulup Cleansing Ceremony 1, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
45 x 90 cm

Japanese in Port Bradshaw 2, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
93 x 157 cm

They put me on a plane, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
184 x 90 cm

Gatapangawuy Dhawu 2, 2008
3307Q
natural earth pigments on bark
35 x 171 cm

Collecting Eggs, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
51 x 118 cm

Japanese Submarine, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
41 x 130 cm

Collecting Wild Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
150 x 63 cm

Gatapangawuy Dhawu 1, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
187 x 57 cm

Biranybirany, 2008
3242A
natural earth pigments on bark
136 x 54 cm

2 Wild Apple Trees, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
81 x 35 cm

Buffalos in the Apples, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
152 x 72 cm

4 Buffalos 4 Wendys, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
112 x 62 cm

3 Wild Apple Trees, 2008
natural earth pigments on bark
40 x 94 cm

Bungul Djama Ceremony, 2008
3372K
natural earth pigments on bark
167 x 70 cm

Mokuy, 2008
incised Beech Hibiscus, natural earth pigments
15 - 50 cm
Edition of 15

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu The Little Things
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2021

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu the moment eternal
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, 2020

Group Show, Workshop
University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, 2019

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Ganyu
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2019

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Encounters, Art Basel | Hong Kong
Art Basel Hong Kong, 2018

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2017

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2016

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Lawarra Maypa
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2015

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu all our relations
18th Biennale of Sydney, 2012

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Birrka'
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2011

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu In Sydney Again
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2010

Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Once Upon a Time
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, 2008