Midpul (Prince of Wales)
Midpul (Prince of Wales) was a pioneering Larrakia artist who became the first major contemporary Indigenous artist to emerge from the Darwin region. Born in 1935 at Kahlin (Cullen) Beach, Darwin, Midpul inherited custodianship of Larrakia ceremonial dance and songs following his father's passing, establishing his profound cultural authority. Larrakia people express their culture through the interconnected pillars of dance, song, and body painting, and Midpul maintained a focus on these three elements throughout his artistic practice. Following an untimely stroke, he began translating the body paint designs of his Larrakia clan onto found objects, paper, and cardboard, maintaining his ceremonial and cultural authority in a new medium. In 1995, at age sixty, Midpul started creating his celebrated "Body Marks" compositions on various supports, including cardboard and bark, before moving onto canvas, which he continued to paint until his passing in 2002. These extraordinary paintings echo the sound and rhythm of performance, capturing the dynamic energy of ceremonial practice through bold linear patterns and vibrant dotwork. His works are held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of Western Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, and Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, establishing his enduring significance in Australian contemporary art.
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