Draft:Wanyubi Marika

Wanyubi Marika is a contemporary Aboriginal Australian artist known for his bark painting. He is also a well-known community leader and senior ranger in the Laynhapuy Homelands.

Biography
Wanyubi Marika was born in Darwin, Australia on January 30th, 1967. He lives between the town of Yirrkala in Eastern Arnhem Land, and his wife's outstation at Baniyala. He is of the Dhuwa moiety, the son of Milirrpum Marika and Reverend Liyapadiny Marika, and a member of the Rirratjingu clan. His father, best known for being the plaintiff in the Australian Supreme Court case Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, sent Wanyubi to school to learn English. Wanyubi attended preschool, primary and secondary school in Yirrkala, graduating from Nhulunbuy Secondary School in 1983. He also attended Batchelor Institute through TAFE NSW where he earned an Associate degree in Community Management.

Domestic Career
In the early 2000s, inspired by the positive impact that the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area (or IPA), Wanyubi set out to form an IPA for the Laynhapuy region. One Homeland-based Yirralka Ranger stated that, "I was there at the start, when Wanyubi [Yolngu initiator of the program] started up. I’ll be a ranger until I die!" Beginning with nearly 1,160 square miles (300,000 hectares) in 2006, the region now covers over 2,600 square miles (690,000 hectares). As of 2014, Wanyubi serves the Laynhapuy IPA as one of Yirrkala's two Senior Culture Advisors. He has been a significant inspiration to the other rangers.

Art Career
Beginning his art career with two works at Saltwater–Yirrkala Bark Paintings of Sea Country, Wanyubi Marika built on the artistic training of his "fathers", friends and kin of his father's, to learn painting skill. Some notable examples include Djambawa Marawili and Gawirrin Gumana. He currently holds the position of Buku-Larranggay Mulka committee chairperson, and was part of the curatorial team for Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, and exhibition made in conjuction with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection.