iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

ididjaustralia · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: Roy Wuyngumbi - Wagilak man

Thought I'd mention Roy Wuyngumbi as he's a known 'bamboo man' in Arnhem Land but like many of his contemporaries, is relatively unknown to the outside world. Roy's art is something to be seen, just incredible... pic below of a fairly recent work.

Guan

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danielsaan · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 132 Location: London

It practically shimmers on the screen. It is beautiful.

I wonder how the artist imagined it in his head before he painted it? It looks impossibly complicated.

Dan

bindi · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:57 pm Post subject:

WOW !

WOW, I did WOW say right? "Mind Blowing"
Fantastic.

GGW · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 66 Location: Canada

Hi there

Amazing and thecnicaly outstanding ! When abstraction become reality and reality become abstraction ,splendide .

GGW

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flyangler18 · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 394

I just love the close cross-hatch. Seems to instill some movement into the piece. Frenetic but lovely.

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martin · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 101

Absolutely Beautiful. wow!

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marcuz · Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 24 Location: Barcelona, Spain

Hello there,

about Roy... For me he's one of the best people i've ever met in Arnhem Land... Veeeery humble man, reaaally wise, very quite, he's an amazing singer who travels all around A.L. for singing in ceremony, and, as I've observed when listening to other people speaking about him, he is very respected, no matter in northeast A.L. or southwest A.L... and obviously an incredible painter... I'm very proud of being able to spend such incredible time with him (more to come, i hope!!), always opening my ears as if i was Dumbo when being with him...

Guan, u mention "bamboo man"... is that a nickname or do u mean that he's known for being a former bamboo player in WAL?? i seem to remember he once told me people called him "djaowyn man", even though he's obviously not djaowyn, he's wagilak, but because he came from the east/Djilpin area towards Mainoru to work with cattle, and he spent time with djaowyn people and learnt a bit of the language... is that right? i'm not very sure of it now...
About the spelling of his aboriginal name, I've seen it written as Muyngarnbi, Wuyngarnbi and now Wuyngumbi... dunno which is the right one...

Dunno if it's the right place to comment this but, considering we're talking about Roy... Guan, have u ever had a listen or a look at the CD-DVD "Muyngarnbi: Songs of Walking with Spirits"??? The project that Tom (E.Lewis) was carrying ahead about playing contemporary music along songs sung by old songmen??? I think it's worthwhile a look!!! Quite interesting, not only Roy is in it, but old Jimmy Wesan (dalabon), old Victor Hood (rembarrnga) and, of course, the great and only Micky Dhugurrun Hall (ritharrngu), with a brief starring of Frankie Tango Lane (myailli)... all of them with Tom E.Lewis (murrungun), Michael Hohnen (skinnyfish) and Ross Hannaford (former guitarist of a famous oz rock band which name i can't remember now)... very interesting thing... i think u could sell this CD thru here too, if u think it fits... contact Fleur, or I could let her know about it too...

the link for the CD-DVD is:
http://djilpinarts.eventix.com.au/display_product_all.htm?uid=2754682&guid=96676e699899a4&message=

at the cover of the CD, Roy, Dhugurrun and someone else in the background, he, he... u recognise that someone, Guan???

i took part at the very beginning of the project, when it just was a crazy idea, and it was amazing... i have a short video that i might upload on youtube, if anyone interested, of Roy singing birrk birrk along a sitar (michael kokynos) and percussion (me), one day we were sick of all the humbugs in beswick and runaway to beswick creek... quite a rarity!!!

i also have some pics of other works by Roy, belonging to an exhibition I'm finishing to organise in Barcelona. Very happy to show them here if anyone interested.

ididjaustralia · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

Hey Marcos,

Wuyngumbi is correct. I've heard the name spoken by Yolngu several times and can attest to the spelling. The problem with names is when there isn't an understanding of Yolngu Matha orthography by Yolngu or Balanda, or mishearing of names which is an easy mistake to make.

Roy is a bamboo man in that he is a noted didjeridu player for the Wagilak/Guyula-Djambarrpuyngu families who use the surname "Ashley". I'd imagine that at Roy's age, he no longer has the power and control he did as a younger person, what do you reckon? He still kicks-arse or is so-so?

The CD has been mentioned here before, by Mahir I think it was. It isn't something I would promote and sell as it is 'fusion' product and does not have much that speaks of culture and Yolngu music. Hey, that's you in the background on the cover eh? I didn't notice that before lol!

Guan

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