The Aboriginal Memorial
The Aboriginal Memorial is an installation of 200 hollow log ceremonial coffins from Central Arnhem Land created in 1987-88 in response to the Bicentenary of Australia, which marked 200 years of European occupation. The path through the installation imitates the course of the Glyde River in Central Arnhem Land, flowing through the Arafura Swamp to the Arafura Sea. The hollow log coffins are situated broadly according to where the artists' clans belong along the river and its tributaries.
The Aboriginal Memorial was conceived by artist-curator Djon Mundine OAM, a member of the Bundjalung people of northern New South Wales and the art advisor at Ramingining at the time. Mundine originally approached a small group of senior artists, including Paddy Dhathangu, George Malibirr, Jimmy Wululu and Dr David Daymirringu. However, the project grew to include 44 artists, both male and female, from Ramingining and surrounding communities.
The Aboriginal Memorial represents a forest of souls and is, in the words of Mundine 'like a large war cemetery, a war memorial for all those Aboriginal people who died defending their country'.
In 1987, James Mollison, inaugural director of the National Gallery of Australia, agreed to commission this installation to enable the artists, most of whom were professional bark painters, sculptors and weavers, to complete the project. The Aboriginal Memorial was initially shown at the Biennale of Sydney in 1988. It was then brought to Canberra where it has remained on permanent display since. On its installation in the National Gallery, Mollison declared it 'probably one of the greatest works of art ever to have been made in this country'.
The Aboriginal Memorial marks an important time in the history of Australian society. While it is intended as a war memorial, it is also a historical statement, a testimony to the resilience of First Nations people and culture, and a legacy for future generations of Australians.
The Aboriginal Memorial
1987-88 Ramingining, Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory natural earth pigments on wood
Purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery
admission charges and commissioned in 1987
Ramingining artists
Djardie Ashley Rittharrngu people 1950-2007 Australia
Joe Patrick Birriwanga Rembarrnga people born & died Australia
David Blanasi Rembarrnga people 1930-c.2001 Australia
Roy Burrnyila Ganalbingu people 1955-2021 Australia
Mick Daypurryun 2 Liyagawumirr people 1929-1994 Australia
Tony Dhanyula Buyuyukulmirr people 1935-2005 Australia
Paddy Dhathangu Liyagalawumirri people 1914-1993 Australia
John Dhurrikayu 1 Manyarrngu people 1959-died Australia
Jimmy Djelminy Ganalbingu people 1946-2003 Australia
Tony Djikululu Gupapuyngu people 1938-1992 Australia
Dorothy Djukulul Ganalbingu people 1942-2019 Australia
Tom Djumburpur Wudamin/Djinba peoples 1920-2006 Australia
Robyn Djunginy Ganalbingu people 1947-2019 Australia
Charlie Djurritjini Ganalbingu people born 1952 Australia
Elizabeth Djuttara Ganalbingu people 1942-2010 Australia
Billy Black Durrgumba Murrungun people born 1954 Australia
Gela Nga-Mirraitja Fordham Rembarrnga people 1933-2006 Australia
Toby Gabalga Wulaki people
born 1957 Australia
Daisy Ganyila 2 Djinba people 1969-died Australia
Philip Gudthaykudthay Liyagalawumirr people born 1923 Australia
Neville Gulaygulay Manharrngu people born 1959 Australia
Don Gundinga Marrangu people 1941-1989 Australia
George Jangawanga Marrangu people 1938-died Australia
David Malangi Daymirringu Manharrngu people 1927-1999 Australia
Jimmy Mamalunhawuy Gupapuyngu people 1934-1992 Australia
Terry Mangapal Malarra people 1967-died Australia
Agnes Marrawurr Ganalbingu people 1953-1996 Australia
Andrew Marrgululu Marrangu people 1959-died Australia
Clara Matjandatjpi Wubukwubuk Ganalbingu people 1950-died Australia
John Mawurndjul AM
Kuninjku (Eastern Kunwinjku) people born 1952 Australia
Dick Smith Mewirri Marrangu people 1920-1995 Australia
George Milpurrurru Ganalbingu people 1934-1998 Australia
87.2240.1-200
Peter Minygululu Djinba people 1942-c.2019 Australia
Jack Mirriti 2 Murrungun people 1966-1991 Australia
Jimmy Moduk Marrangu people 1942-died Australia
Djon Mundine
(concept curator and artist) Githabul clan, Bandjalung people born 1951 Australia
Neville Nanytjawuy Liyagalawumirr people 1942-1998 Australia
Victor Pamkal Rembarrnga people born & died Australia
Roy Riwa
Malarra people 1929-1995 Australia
Frances Rrikili Buyuyukulmirr people born 1962 Australia
William Watirri Gupapuyngu people 1946-died Australia
Jimmy Wululu Gupapuyngu people 1936-2005 Australia
Wurraki 2
Warramiri people 1934-1979 Australia
Yambal Durrurrnga Liyagalawumirr people 1936-died Australia
The Aboriginal Memorial
The Aboriginal Memorial is an installation of 200 hollow log ceremonial coffins from Central Arnhem Land created in 1987-88 in response to the Bicentenary of Australia, which marked 200 years of European occupation. The path through the installation imitates the course of the Glyde River in Central Arnhem Land, flowing through the Arafura Swamp to the Arafura Sea. The hollow log coffins are situated broadly according to where the artists' clans belong along the river and its tributaries.
The Aboriginal Memorial was conceived by artist-curator Djon Mundine OAM, a member of the Bundjalung people of northern New South Wales and the art advisor at Ramingining at the time. Mundine originally approached a small group of senior artists, including Paddy Dhathangu, George Malibirr, Jimmy Wululu and Dr David Daymirringu. However, the project grew to include 44 artists, both male and female, from Ramingining and surrounding communities.
The Aboriginal Memorial represents a forest of souls and is, in the words of Mundine 'like a large war cemetery, a war memorial for all those Aboriginal people who died defending their country'.
In 1987, James Mollison, inaugural director of the National Gallery of Australia, agreed to commission this installation to enable the artists, most of whom were professional bark painters, sculptors and weavers, to complete the project. The Aboriginal Memorial was initially shown at the Biennale of Sydney in 1988. It was then brought to Canberra where it has remained on permanent display since. On its installation in the National Gallery, Mollison declared it 'probably one of the greatest works of art ever to have been made in this country'.
The Aboriginal Memorial marks an important time in the history of Australian society. While it is intended as a war memorial, it is also a historical statement, a testimony to the resilience of First Nations people and culture, and a legacy for future generations of Australians.
The Aboriginal Memorial
1987-88 Ramingining, Central Arnhem Land, Northern Territory natural earth pigments on wood
Purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery
admission charges and commissioned in 1987
Ramingining artists
Djardie Ashley Rittharrngu people 1950-2007 Australia
Joe Patrick Birriwanga Rembarrnga people born & died Australia
David Blanasi Rembarrnga people 1930-c.2001 Australia
Roy Burrnyila Ganalbingu people 1955-2021 Australia
Mick Daypurryun 2 Liyagawumirr people 1929-1994 Australia
Tony Dhanyula Buyuyukulmirr people 1935-2005 Australia
Paddy Dhathangu Liyagalawumirri people 1914-1993 Australia
John Dhurrikayu 1 Manyarrngu people 1959-died Australia
Jimmy Djelminy Ganalbingu people 1946-2003 Australia
Tony Djikululu Gupapuyngu people 1938-1992 Australia
Dorothy Djukulul Ganalbingu people 1942-2019 Australia
Tom Djumburpur Wudamin/Djinba peoples 1920-2006 Australia
Robyn Djunginy Ganalbingu people 1947-2019 Australia
Charlie Djurritjini Ganalbingu people born 1952 Australia
Elizabeth Djuttara Ganalbingu people 1942-2010 Australia
Billy Black Durrgumba Murrungun people born 1954 Australia
Gela Nga-Mirraitja Fordham Rembarrnga people 1933-2006 Australia
Toby Gabalga Wulaki people
born 1957 Australia
Daisy Ganyila 2 Djinba people 1969-died Australia
Philip Gudthaykudthay Liyagalawumirr people born 1923 Australia
Neville Gulaygulay Manharrngu people born 1959 Australia
Don Gundinga Marrangu people 1941-1989 Australia
George Jangawanga Marrangu people 1938-died Australia
David Malangi Daymirringu Manharrngu people 1927-1999 Australia
Jimmy Mamalunhawuy Gupapuyngu people 1934-1992 Australia
Terry Mangapal Malarra people 1967-died Australia
Agnes Marrawurr Ganalbingu people 1953-1996 Australia
Andrew Marrgululu Marrangu people 1959-died Australia
Clara Matjandatjpi Wubukwubuk Ganalbingu people 1950-died Australia
John Mawurndjul AM
Kuninjku (Eastern Kunwinjku) people born 1952 Australia
Dick Smith Mewirri Marrangu people 1920-1995 Australia
George Milpurrurru Ganalbingu people 1934-1998 Australia
87.2240.1-200
Peter Minygululu Djinba people 1942-c.2019 Australia
Jack Mirriti 2 Murrungun people 1966-1991 Australia
Jimmy Moduk Marrangu people 1942-died Australia
Djon Mundine
(concept curator and artist) Githabul clan, Bandjalung people born 1951 Australia
Neville Nanytjawuy Liyagalawumirr people 1942-1998 Australia
Victor Pamkal Rembarrnga people born & died Australia
Roy Riwa
Malarra people 1929-1995 Australia
Frances Rrikili Buyuyukulmirr people born 1962 Australia
William Watirri Gupapuyngu people 1946-died Australia
Jimmy Wululu Gupapuyngu people 1936-2005 Australia
Wurraki 2
Warramiri people 1934-1979 Australia
Yambal Durrurrnga Liyagalawumirr people 1936-died Australia