In Yolŋu culture the land, family, ceremony, songs and art are connected. Milingimbi artists share these stories in fibre works, paintings on bark, ceremonial poles and carvings.
Our Cultural Heritage
Artwork from Milingimbi has been vigorously collected since the 1920’s, when the first Methodist missionaries arrived. By the 1960s the centre was a leader in establishing the market for traditional Yolŋu art. As a result art from Milingimbi is included in significant national and international collections. The centre continues the long tradition of producing high quality works, including bark paintings, carvings and weaving.
For contemporary Yolŋu, these artworks are living pieces of cultural heritage that have an ongoing importance in Yolŋu social life.
Milingimbi Art and Culture Centre is housed in a historical building made of mud bricks; it was constructed in the 1930s.
Dhäwu Joe Dhamanydjiwuŋ: Makarraṯapuy dhäwu (Statement from Joe Dhamanydji: Makarraṯa and the exhibition)
Joe Dhamanydji and fellow Yolŋu cultural leaders from Milingimbi, Ramingining and Yirrkala worked with University of Sydney museum staff from 2016 through 2021 to co-curate, Gululu dhuwala djalkiri: Welcome to the Yolŋu foundations, an exhibition of historical and...
The passing of knowledge through generations
In late 2019 Milingimbi artists were invited by curator, Nici Cumpston, to create new works that explored the theme of sharing between generations. The below text was written for the accompanying exhibition catalogue. It is not surprising that, in these times, we...
Garrawurra are singing and waking up the young girl
Garrawurra are singing and waking up the young girl. They are standing on my mother’s country—singing from sunrise to sunset. This is women’s secret sacred ceremony. The deep story is not for here. —Susan Balbunga Susan Balbunga’s mother’s country of...
