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Gudurrku (brolga bird), symbol of the sun, and giver of life.
This is an animation for a person who symbolized a Yolngu (meaning “people” referring to aboriginals of the northern-east Territory of Australia) champion. A person of hope, a person with dreams of the brigther future for his people, and sacrificed everything to help them overcome the challenges of cultural integration.
Becoming a professional footie player at a young age, he proved that Yolngu can accomplish anything by opening the heart, and following one’s light of passion. After becoming one of the most valuable players of footie game in Australia, he returned to his home in the Northern-East Territory of Australia in order to ensure that Yolngu learn how to keep their culture alive while learning non-Yolngu culture and way of life. After all, his culture has evolved for over 400 generations with knowledge and earth wisdom. They are now faced with the challenge of keeping their own culture, while learning to adapt to a new world culture that is so different in various respects.
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Guykarri (Dolphin)
Having visited his homeland for his funeral ceremony, I returned with a strong sense of hope, knowing that his dreams are becoming true; as Yolngu culture is strong and well intact. I witnessed even the youngest members of Yolngu partaking in the dancing called “Bunggul”.
Amazing is Yolngu culture… that one can see how Yolngu children are born with the rhythms, dances, and songs that are tied to the strong generational threads that have strengthened over time.
Learning their creative system of knowledge is to discover a beautiful ocean deep of life, and wisdom. Learning the knowledge systems of native cultures in general (creative, nomadic, earth/nature loving people) is to discover paradigms that open the mind, diminishing our cultural blind-spot of present life, and the fear of each other’s cultures.
If we are going to globalize and end our struggles with ourselves, we must begin by learning each other’s songs, rhythms, dances, and art. Only then can we meet each other with open heart, open mind, total respect, and peace. This way, we can enjoy each other’s countries, foods, songs, dances, and creativity. If there’s ever going be an Army to cause harmony and peace, it should be an Army of music, dances, art, and love. Is there any other way?
Yo! Markup mi! Guykarri (Dolphin) Crying And Lost
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Guku – Wild Honey
I always wanted to know what each rhythm looked like, or how the dances were. This animation of “Guku – Wild Honey” was created before my visit to the Northern Territory. Little did I know that there are two types of honey “sweet and sour”. One day as we were walking in the bush, we came across a bee hive hidden inside of a hollowed-out stringy-bark eucalyptus tree. The depiction of this rhythm in real life was very similar to the animation. I don’t know why I designed it in clay surrounded by bush. The only bee hive that I have ever seen in the wild had been in trees. Lots of times I have come to discover that my visions and learning come from my intuition, and then confirmed by an elder or the world itself.
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