Independent Curators International supports the work of curators to help create stronger art communities through experimentation, collaboration, and international engagement.

Independent Curators International supports the work of curators to help create stronger art communities through experimentation, collaboration, and international engagement.

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Patrina Mununggurr

Patrina Mununggurr (b.1988, Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory; Clan: Djapu; Moiety: Dhuwa; Homeland: Waṉḏawuy, Lives and works in Yirrkala, North East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory) is one of the leading cinematographers at The Mulka Project and is a competent film editor and post-production technician. Her initial work was largely documenting community events but quickly expanded as her skills and enthusiasm for cinematography developed and her eagerness for capturing Yolngu cultural knowledge grew. She came to predominance as a film maker after shooting and producing two ceremonial films Waṉḏawuy Dhapi and Biranybirany Dhapi out in the Yolngu homelands. These two films are still some of the most popular ceremonial movies amongst the Yolngu community. In 2016 Patrina graduated from an AFTRS (Australian Film, Television and Radio School) short course in Melbourne and returned home inspired and completed a 7 part series documenting the hunting, preparation, and alchemy of the 7 colours of master weaver and colour dyer Langani Marika. In 2017 Patrina delivered her first television commission for NITV, a documentary on dhapi (male initiation ceremony), titled Waṉḏawuy Dhapi and was a guest speaker on a panel at the 2017 Tarnanthi Festival. Also in 2017 Patrina produced and exhibited her first screen-based artwork at The Good Shed Gallery (Claremont WA) as part of the Earth Matters Exhibition. Her piece Gurrkurr Dhalkuma (Strengthening the Bloodlines) which was shot in 6K focused on the properties of gapan (white clay) used for Yolŋu ceremony, art and health. This exquisite film piece has been described as meditative. As well as exhibiting her film she hosted workshops at the gallery the week of the opening, sharing her cultural knowledge. In 2018 Patrina produced another 6K film piece titled, Dhunupa'kum Nhuna Wanda (Straightening your Mind), this film piece was awarded the 2018 National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Media Award. "Mununggurr's work is breathtakingly beautiful and intimate in its showcase of ceremony and Yolngu culture." Rhanna Collins NITV In Focus 10 Aug 2018 In March 2019 Patrina travelled to Monash University, Caulfield and took part in a lecture to over 100 people, discussing the roles of The Mulka Project in the community of Yirrkala and later held a floor talk at MUMA discussing The Mulka Projects exhibition piece as part of the Shapes of Knowledge exhibition. In 2020 Patrina completed a commissioned collaborative 6k film piece with Ishmael Marika which is currently displayed on a 3x16:9 screen at the University of Technology Sydney. The concept of their piece is based around Yolngu mapping and the season of Rarranhdharr. Patrina worked with the Mulka Project team on an exhibition for Sydney Biennale 2020 which was an immersive collaborative piece which weaved together the kinship relationships of Mulka artists from multiple connected Yolngu clans. The space presented enveloping projections, paired with spatial audio and at its center a larrakitj (burial pole) covered in 3D projection mapping. This was exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW.