Below is a paper i wrote on David and the use of his artwork on the 1 dollar note. Have a read and feel free to post any thoughts or comments on the situation.
David Malangi
(1927-1999)
David Malangi was born in 1927 in Mulanga, on the east bank of the Glyde
River in the Northern Territory which is traditional Arnhem Land. David would
often spend his time at the offshore Milingimbi mission and his own native
mainland. He grew up surrounded by his tribe and living according to
traditional law. David invested a lot of his time into the mission were he
worked as a gardener and caring for the livestock. David was influenced by art
and more specifically painting from a young age as he would often paint for
ceremony. It was not until the death of his father in the late 1960’s that
David took on the role to become an apprentice to ceremony leader, Ghawadanygulili.
This gave David a new perspective and steered him towards creating a career out
of aboriginal art. From his devotion and amount of time he placed into the art
world David started to pick up recognition from people outside his tribe and
abroad.
One of the events that helped launch David into the public arena of art
was when one of his pieces was used on the Australian one dollar note. In 1966,
Paris based collector Karel Kupka purchased David’s Gurrmirringu’s Mortuary
Feast for the Musse National des Arts d’Afrique et d’Oceanie. Gurrmirringu’s
Mortuary Feast depicts the body of Gurrmirringu being prepared for traditional
burial. The body is surrounded by seated ceremonial singers whose song is
safely guiding the spirit of Gurrmirringu to his resting place. Gurrmirringu
was a hunter and for this reason his body is surrounded by a variety of animals
to show his success as a aboriginal hunter as well as his final funeral feast.
This image, which was painted onto bark, was taken by the Australian
Reserve Bank and used on the design of the Australian one dollar note. David
was never approached or made aware that his work would be used on such a huge
scale before the notes hit circulation within the Australian population. David
became aware of his work on the one dollar note and pursed legal action. Within
this time period non-indigenous Australians believed all aboriginal art to be
community owned. This issue due to David’s artworks popularity from the wider
community, received much media coverage and opened up for discussion the issue
of copyright law and more directly copyright law within aboriginal art.
David was awarded a specially struck medal and was paid $1000 dollars
for the use of Gurrmirringu’s Mortuary Feast being used unrightfully on the one
dollar note. Coincidently Dr. Nugget Coombs of the Reserve Bank who presented
the medal to David went on to become a large supporter for indigenous rights.
In 1989 David went on to play a critical role in the benchmark case that
would put to rest once and for all the laws related to copyright and aboriginal
artists and their work. David completed much in his life and paved the way for
the indigenous people within a mainstream non-indigenous dominate society.
In reviewing David’s life story and more particular the event
surrounding the copyright issue it has made me ask many questions about
Australia and if we are a truly multicultural country that respects the rights
of all human beings.
For generations we have thought of Australia as a supreme white race. We
have been so focused on contending with other countries on numerous stages, let
it be art, sport, politics or even money that we have forgotten to take note
and cherish our past and the original custodians of Australia, the indigenous
people. For centuries before us these people cared for and lived off the land
that we have now polluted with society’s needs and wants. We have turned the
once beautiful bare red land into a concrete maze and ignored mother earth.
We not only took over the land from the indigenous people but also
altered their lifestyle and interfered with their life. We stole their children
and tried to eliminate and wipe out such a rich and vibrant culture that is
part of Australia’s history. Through the stolen generation non-indigenous
people spoke by not saying anything at all. By keeping there voice silent they
took part in helping the government put into effect their plan to erase all
indigenous people. It was not only until the last ten years that Australia has
woken up and finally recognised the indigenous people and their constant
contribution to Australian society. The biggest step forward in recent years
was when then prime mister Kevin Rudd apologised to all aboriginal communities
for the actions of the Australian government and the stolen generation.
So the question must be posed, why have we neglected the aboriginal
people and their civil rights as Australians. David’s story highlights how we
have used and abused the indigenous people. It is only now and due to people
like David that the indigenous people have been heard by the greater Australian
society and respected.
As per Aboriginal tradition the deceased name is not spoken for many
years and referred to by a different name. David ‘Daymirringu’ Malangi passed
away in 1999.
Unfortunately we cannot change the past but only move on and learn from
our mistakes. Lets hope in saying this that as a non indigenous Australian we
learn to fully respect the indigenous people and show the rightful respect that
they deserve. In doing so we can combine to help make Australia a truly beautiful
place for all to live in peace, harmony and with the basic rights we all
deserve.
