Bobby Dhalmirrawuy

Bobby Dhalmirrawuy grew up on the island of Yurrwi (Milingimbi) and went to school at the Mission there. Dhalmirrawuy explains that Yurrwi is his Märi (mother’s mother) country and that although his patrilineal ancestral country of Lungutja (Sand Island) is much further east he knows it intimately in his mind.

As a young boy Dhalmirrawuy’s father, Geoffrey Dhupidija, taught him about their Birrkili clan country and the miny’tji (clan designs) that belong to it. He remembers:

‘My dad told me about bark painting so that I can paint the right way from my clan. He taught me everything when I was young. When I grew up and started painting he said yes, that’s the one now – but don’t get mixed up. Paint the right way for your Dreaming’