Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, Baratjala, 2019. Reclaimed printer toner (ground polyester) and natural earth pigments with PVA binder on bark, 163 x 72 cm. Courtesy: the artist, Buku Larrnggay Mulka and Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.

This powerful body of work, Pink Lightning reveals an engrained understanding of Noŋgirrŋa Marawili’s environment, family and history through her expressive and organic forms of painting. By combining natural materials such as earth ochres and stringy bark with a striking use of pink pigment (recovered from recycled print toner cartridges), Marawili alludes to her strong cultural ties, whilst simultaneously crossing artistic boundaries that only a senior woman of her strength could even contemplate.

Most recently a major installation by Marawili was unveiled at TARNANTHI: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide. TARNANTHI Artistic Director Nici Cumpston, together with AGSA Assistant Director, Artistic Programs Lisa Slade, wrote: “In the case of Madarrpa clan artist Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, residual magenta ink from cast-off printer cartridges is reborn as a new crimson-hued ochre. Marawili paints daily in the courtyard of Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, wielding pigment with expressive power across bark, paper and larrakitj.”

Exhibition opens: 2–4pm Saturday 23 November 2019

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