Phillip Gudthaygudthay (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.
Phillip begun 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. Liyagalawumirr 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.
Personal totems are native cat, hollow log, olive python, water goanna. Minydji -landscape of his country at Mirarrmina / gunyanmirringur, where the original Badurru (hollow log) ceremony was performed, Wagilag Sisters Creation Story, Witditj -python, the setting of the story of the creation of the Milky Way in the Sky and a stylised water plant.
