Tributes for indigenous artist and role model Yunupingu

RESPECTED indigenous artist Mrs Yunupingu was remembered yesterday for her contribution to Aboriginal art and culture.

RESPECTED indigenous artist Mrs Yunupingu was remembered yesterday for her contribution to Aboriginal art and culture.

Mrs Yunupingu, the sister of indigenous leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu, and Yothu Yindi singer Mandawuy Yunupingu, died on Wednesday night at her home in Gunyangara on the Northern Territory's Nhulunbuy Peninsular.

The Yolngu artist's work has been exhibited around the world and in Australia. An exhibition of her art opened the restored $370 million Quai Branly Museum in Paris in 2006, and her work has been shown in the National Gallery of Australia, among other institutions.

Northern Territory Arts Minister Gerry McCarthy said yesterday Mrs Yunupingu was an a role model for art and community.

"Mrs Yunupingu was an outstanding ambassador for her people, teaching non-Yolngu people about her culture and world view and in doing so, breaking down barriers and racism," he said in a statement.

This year her one-tonne, 7m x 3m painting on wood Garrurru (Sail) was installed at Canberra's Australian National University.

Mrs Yunupingu won the the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2004 for Garak, The Universe, a work that combined tradition Yolngu patterns with modern designs. Commenting after winning the award, Mrs Yunupingu said the stars that featured in her work were a reminder that people should work towards unity: "We can all look at the stars, whichever sky we're looking at," she said.