Join us for an afternoon of Yuṯa Nhäma Dhukarr—Looking Into New Pathways—short films and discussion presented by The Mulka Project, showcasing the innovative work of Yolŋu filmmakers and artists from Northeast Arnhem Land in Australia. Following the screenings, there will be an insightful discussion with Ishmael Marika (Filmmaker and Creative Director), Dhukumul Waṉambi (Filmmaker and Artist) and Joseph Brady (Program and Technical Director). The conversation will be moderated by Kade McDonald (CEO, Agency Projects), providing a unique opportunity to explore the creative processes and technological innovations behind these works.

This program is presented in conjunction with Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, on view at Asia Society Museum, September 17, 2024 - January 5, 2025. 

Schedule  

The program includes the following short films:

The Making of Watami Manikay [2021] — 6:08
Galka [2014] (dir. Ishmael Marika) — 10:17
Wäṉḏawuy Dhapi [2017] (dir. Patrina Munuŋgurr) — 15:12
Gutiŋarra Djalkarri [2017] (dir. Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu) — 16:24
Gurrkurr Dhälkuma [2018] (dir. Patrina Munuŋgurr) — 7:00

Speakers

Ishmael Marika 

Ishmael Marika is a Yolŋu musician, filmmaker, director and producer and Creative Director, The Mulka Project. His first and most widely-known documentary, titled Wanga Watangumirri Dharuk (2010), is about Yolngu land rights—a subject with familial importance to him.  In 2014, he released a second film, Galka, a drama film about Yolŋu sorcery. Marika has produced a number of other films including Gapu Ga Gunda: The Art of Nongirrngga Marawili (2015), and a 5-episode installment titled Wunya’Gali (The Other Side) in 2017. Marika served on the curatorial team for Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala and created video installations for the exhibition. 

Dhukumul Waṉambi

Dhukumul Waṉambi is a filmmaker and artist, daughter of W. Wanambi (senior curator for Madayin who died in 2022). She traveled to the US with the Maḏayin delegation in 2024.

Joseph Brady

Joseph Brady is Manager of The Mulka Project, the digital production and archive side of Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre. 

Kade McDonald

Kade McDonald is Co-curator of Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, as well as CEO of Agency Projects. He was formerly a Buku-Larrŋgay staff member as well.
 

The Mulka Project 

Established in 2007, The Mulka Project is a collective of practicing multimedia artists, cinematographers, sound engineers and post-production technicians based in Yirrkala, in northeast Arnhem Land, Australia. “Mulka” means a sacred but public ceremony, and, to hold or protect. At The Mulka Project, the rich and complex languages, histories and traditions of Yolŋu people, are collected by a skilled team of cultural advisors, film and recording crew. It is Mulka’s mission to sustain and protect Yolŋu cultural knowledge whilst being managed by Yolŋu law and governance. At the core of The Mulka Project resides a growing archive of Yolŋu knowledge, ceremony, and cultural history which gives voice to generations past and also allows contemporary Yolŋu knowledge and law to speak to coming generations and a worldwide audience. The Mulka Project collaborates on each artist’s concepts to produce highly developed works for exhibitions nationally and internationally utilizing our exceptional expertise in 6k film, animation, VR, 3D modeling, photogrammetry, projection mapping, and sound production, and has been actively involved with museums and universities including the British Museum, the National Museum of Australia and Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. 

 Maḏayin is organized by the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia in partnership with Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre.

The exhibition is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Australian Government, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Mellon Foundation, Creative Australia, Australian Capital Equity Pty Limited | Kerry Stokes Collection, Foundation Opale, the Jefferson Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Crozier Fine Arts.

The presentation at Asia Society is generously funded by our lead sponsors News Corp and Pratt Foundation, with additional support from George and Mary Dee Hicks, D'Lan Contemporary, Mark Tucker, the National Endowment for the Arts, and others.