Milminyina Dhamarrandji

Milminyina was born in 1960 at Wirrwawuy, near Yirrkala and Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula in the northeastern Northern Territory. Her märi (mother’s mother’s clan) is Rirratjiŋu, the Traditional Owners of Yirrkala, who share important sacred designs with the Djambarrpuyŋu people of the region.

Her practice reflects a deep engagement with Yolŋu cultural knowledge, particularly through painting and ceremonial traditions. After many years working on canvas, she has expanded her practice to include bark painting and larrakitj (memorial poles) at Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka.

Dhamarrandji’s works evoke the elusive presence of the dhambaḏiny (death adder), whose ability to camouflage itself within sand and grass is translated into visually complex and immersive compositions. The serpentine forms within her painted hollow-log sculptures and animated media can be difficult to discern, obscured by the shimmering optical effects of concentric diamond motifs derived from Djambarrpuyŋu miny’tji (sacred clan designs), echoing the patterned skin of the snake. Through this meticulous process, she reaffirms her enduring connection to her totem, her ancestors, and her Country.