From the Hearts and Hands of Yolŋu Artists

Among the white-painted walls of the stringybark trees lies Garma’s spectacular Gapan Gallery, a celebration of Yolŋu art.

Gapan Gallery opening night (2014)Yothu Yindi Foundation

Where the ancient meets the contemporary.

Set among a grove of stringy-bark trees, the Gapan Gallery is an open-air art gallery exhibiting works by new and established artists from the renowned Buku Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala.

Preparing the Gapan Gallery walls (2022) by Butter Media Pty LtdYothu Yindi Foundation

'Gapan' is the natural white clay painted on the stringybark trees which act as the walls for this beautiful exhibition.

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Yolŋu art is widely admired around Australia and the world, and is a fundamental expression of identity and culture.

Hand painting (2022) by Jeanie GovanYothu Yindi Foundation

Distinctive techniques such as cross-hatching (known in Yolŋu as rarrk) and the use of bark in place of canvas demonstrate the exquisite skills of Yolŋu painters.

Hand painting (2022) by Leicolhn McKellarYothu Yindi Foundation

Gapan Gallery exhibition view during the day (2022) by Leicolhn McKellarYothu Yindi Foundation

Although many paintings depict sacred designs or stories, artists also produce cutting-edge contemporary pieces, or blend traditional and modern styles.

Gapan Gallery exhibition view at night (2015) by Peter EveYothu Yindi Foundation

Basket weaving (2018) by Teagan GlenaneYothu Yindi Foundation

Many Yolŋu women create stunning baskets...

Baskets, mats, jewellery, dilly bags and wall-hangings (2022) by Jeanie GovanYothu Yindi Foundation

...mats, and dilly bags by using raw fibres collected from the bush.. 

Pandanus for basket weaving (2019) by Teagan GlenaneYothu Yindi Foundation

...dyeing them and weaving them using methods passed down from mother to daughter over many generations. 

The Gapan Gallery (2022) by Butter Media Pty LtdYothu Yindi Foundation

🎬 Be part of the Gapan Gallery opening night

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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