A Vibrant Exhibition Of Traditional Sculpture + Contemporary Art

Various art varieties by nine artists from a smaller and discrete Aboriginal neighborhood on the west coastline of Cape York peninsula come collectively in this new exhibition offered by Brunswick Avenue Gallery and Wik & Kugu Artwork Centre ‘Aak Puul: Artwork From The Wik & Kugu Region’.  

Among the the vibrant ochre and acrylic paintings by Devena Wikmunea, Leigh Namponan and Janet Koongotema, are a selection of legendary camp dog sculptures by Leo Namponan, Bruce Bell, Keith Wikmunea, Leigh Namponan, Lex Namponan, Roderick Yunkaporta and Bevan Namponan. 

By means of the representation of the distinctive visual arts observe belonging to the five clans who are living on Aurukun, this exhibition aspires to display to Melbourne audiences the unity and toughness of Wik & Kugu culture.

Keith Wikmunea, senior Wik-Alkan artist clarifies, ‘”Aak Puul” refers to one’s Tribal Nation or Homeland. It is a expression that especially relates to a person’s father’s Nation, and his father’s ahead of him. Aurukun’s visible artwork is intrinsically tied to Aak Puul which finds its expression in an historic performative cultural tradition of tune and dance.’

Keith’s do the job in the exhibition, ‘Thiikel – Kencharang Croc’ and ‘Ku’Kencharang’ (a substantial crocodile and barking canine created from regular human body paint designs and ochre on Milkwood) were being produced to complement a set of hanging modern paintings by his daughter, Devena Wikmunea.

Jointly, the bold up to date artwork of the ladies in Aurukan and the equally vivid sculptures by the males are portion of a cultural continuum rooted in the ancestral past. 

Keith says, ‘Before time, our outdated individuals carved all their totems together with crocodile, echidna and kangaroo. Each and every carving has a connection to a Story Position identified as Awa’. There are lots of Awa’ throughout the Wik & Kugu Lands. These places are forbidden to the uninitiated and are deemed Ngench Thayan (Sacred Spot). The men’s and women’s artwork sorts from Aurukun are all linked to these areas. When we carve our totems, we are sharing our tales from these essential places’. 

‘Aak Puul: Art From The Wik & Kugu Location’ is open from 15 September to 2 October at Brunswick Street Gallery. 

Find out more about the exhibition right here. 

Brunswick Road Gallery
Level 1 & 2
322 Brunswick Avenue
Wurundjeri Nation, Fitzroy VIC