Phillip Gudthaykudthay

Phillip Gudthaykudthay (also known as Pussycat) was born into the Liyagalawumirri people in Central Arnhem Land and was initiated at Gatji in about 1949. After the death of his parents the artist was adopted by a Murrungun family and his style of painting owes a lot to his stepbrother Mirrija who died in 1988. He gained public attention in 1967 through his appearance in the documentary Across the Top by Malcolm Douglas, which depicted traditional life in Arnhem Land. He also later portrayed The Sorcerer in the 2006 film Ten Canoes. Phillip began painting in the early 1970's. His subject matter and totems include parts of the Wagilag Sisters story, an important Aboriginal creation myth; the native cat from which he gets his nickname; a stylised water plant; and an abstract gridded landscape (minydji) depicting Gunyunmirringa, the setting for the story of the creation of the Milky Way. This abstract design signifies the landscape where the Widitj, the olive python, ate the two Wagilag sisters. Liyagalawunmirr are the only clan group that owns this particular minydji and hence are the only group that can use and apply this design in initiation and other important ceremonies. Since 1979, Phillip's art has been exhibited in numerous group shows around Australia and he has also had several solo exhibitions in Sydney. He is considered the first bark painter to have had his work recognised as contemporary abstract art. His work is characterised by the thinness of the paint and his use of silvery white clay and brilliant yellow ochre. In 1988, he contributed five Dupan (Hollow Logs) to The Aboriginal Memorial, an installation of 200 logs commemorating Indigenous lives lost since colonisation. This installation was first exhibited at the Sydney Biennale and is now permanently housed at the National Gallery of Australia. Phillip was also one of the artists who participated in a series of workshops held in Ramingining in 1997, by printmaker Theo Tremblay, during which they produced a series of prints, 'The Ramingining Suite', based on the Wagilag Sisters' creation story. This workshop represented a unique collaboration by celebrated Aboriginal artists.