David Malangi

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.