The Mulka Project is a digital library, museum and film production facility within Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre in Yirrkala, a small Aboriginal community on the northeastern tip of the Top End of the Northern Territory. The Mulka Project is considered a recipe for successful preservation of culture and a benchmark program amongst the Indigenous art centres across the country. The archive includes over 200 films all made by local Indigenous filmmakers and editors.
Wukun Wanambi is an artist from north-east Arnhem Land who works primarily using earth pigments on bark and larrakitj (hollow log coffins), as well as making limited edition prints. Wukun's father, Mithili Wanambi, died before he was able to learn from him to any great degree. He began painting in 1997 as part of an artistic program called the Saltwater project. His arm of the Marrakulu clan is responsible for saltwater imagery, which had not been painted intensively since his father's death in 1981. His caretakers, or Djunggayi—principally the late Yanggarriny Wunungmurra—transferred their knowledge of these designs to Wukun, so that the title to saltwater could be asserted. Some of these designs were outside even his father's public painting repertoire. Wukun and his wife Warraynga, also an artist, have five children. Wukun is an active member of the community, with a particular focus on health and recreation projects.
Arian has a passion for music. He employs music to connect his Yolngu culture, stories and people with in, and outside of the Yolngu world. One of Arians greatest influences in his life has been his grandmother, Gamala (Nancy) Yunupingu, who was a Gumatj bark painting artist. Gamala taught Arian about the land, sea and culture.
Arian has a wealth of musical experience as acoustic guitarist and co-songwriter for the world famous band, East Journey. Their 'inspiration and material is drawn from manikay (ceremonial song poetry), traditional melodies and instruments that, through guidance and encouragement from their old people is fused together with western and contemporary musical traditions'. Arian aims to use art as a way to educate foreigners about the Yolngu culture so that they can understand Yolngu values and beliefs.
Wukun and Arian demonstrate continual dedication to cultural conservation and knowledge sharing. They hope to inspire others to take the initiative to develop an archive of current cultural and community issues. The purpose of their films is to share and inspire others to embrace technology and culture as a means of self-determination and preservation.