The art of Peter Marralwanga - Old Master and ritual leader

This episode of Late Night Live explores the life and legacy of Peter Marawanga, a revered Aboriginal artist and ritual leader from Western Arnhem Land. Luke Taylor, senior curator at the National Museum of Australia and co-author of the book *Peter Marawanga, Painter of the Jung of Western Arnhem Land*, shares how he first encountered Marawanga’s work in the early 1980s and was struck by its spiritual depth, dynamism, and innovation. Marawanga’s paintings, rooted in ancestral creation stories and ceremonial traditions, depict powerful 'Jung' — creator beings — rendered with vibrant cross-hatching and dotting that symbolize their spiritual force. Despite living a reclusive life in the bush, Marawanga became a central figure in the development of modern bark painting, blending rock art traditions with ceremonial knowledge. His work gained recognition in the 1980s, leading to major collections in Canberra, Perth, and internationally. The episode also addresses the ethical role of non-Indigenous collaborators, affirming that while market negotiation is vital, actual painting must remain the domain of the custodian artist. The conversation underscores Marawanga’s enduring cultural significance and the deep connection between art, country, and ancestral power.