At MarraMarra Gallery Marketplace, an exhibition, titled ‘Na-Nanyal’ in Yorta Yorta language, will launch on October 31 at 6pm, featuring works from the Mullins family and other talented artists, embodying the gallery’s commitment to culture and creativity.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
MarraMarra Gallery Marketplace, an Aboriginal-owned multi-clan gallery on Yorta Yorta Country in Victoria, is set to showcase works from 11 family artists in an upcoming exhibition.
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“We established the gallery because our families live up that way and it is a multi-language family, clan gallery, just for our families,” Yorta Yorta artist Richard Young said.
The gallery represents artists from diverse nations, including Gunnai, Waradgerie, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara, Boon Wurrung, Tiwi and Wakaman.
It operates as a cultural centre offering exhibitions, workshops, artist talks and youth development programs.
Mr Young, who won an Aboriginal art award with the Koorie Heritage Trust last year, shares his distinctive artistic approach.
“I am an abstract artist, painter and essentially I paint what comes to my mind,” he said.
“Generally, just colours that come to me from Country and on a lot of the painting, I use a high-pressure water hose to water blast.
“I put like 10, 20, 30 layers of paint, so it is really thick and I use 14-ounce canvas.
“Then, if I am carving out a possum skin marking, I apply the high-pressure water hose to carve into the paint to shape out the possum skin.
“The way that they would have once been etched in with bones, the possum skins, were carved in and then ochre applied on top, whereas what I’m doing is the reverse.”
The gallery represents artists from diverse nations, offering exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and youth development programs as a cultural centre.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The gallery takes a different path from conventional art spaces.
“What tends to happen is the mainstream gallery, they just tend to promote central desert artwork, because they think that is all Indigenous art is,” Mr Young said.
“We don’t sell our work, we share our stories and what goes into making the piece, the reasoning and all that.
“We have a different approach to mainstream mob when it comes to selling, they sell work, we share stories.
“It is our responsibility and our obligation to share our work.”
The exhibition, titled 'Na-Nanyal' in Yorta Yorta language, meaning ‘to dream into the future’, launches on October 31 at 6pm, with everyone welcome.
The gallery takes a different approach to mainstream art spaces by focusing on sharing stories rather than selling artwork, aiming to promote culture and tradition.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The showcase features the Mullins family — Jonathon, Carmal, I’Ochre, Laurina and Yurali — alongside Tanise Young, Judith Young, Lyn-Al Young, Robert Young, Kevin Williams and Richard Young.
MarraMarra, which translates to ‘Create, Make, Do’ in the language of Mr Young’s wife, Judith Young, embodies the gallery’s dedication to culture, creativity and truth through art, education and cultural exchange.
You can find MarraMarra Gallery Marketplace at 628 High St, Echuca, open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
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