Career
His paintings expressed his people"s traditional religious beliefs, and included Djang"kawu Story (1960) and Birth of the Djang"kawu Children of Yelangbara (1982). Djang"kawu is the founding ancestor of the Riratjingu in traditional stories. He co-founded the Aboriginal Arts Board in 1973, and became Chairman in 1976.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire that same year.
His portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, and several of his paintings feature in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. As an actor, Marika appeared in the films Where the Green Ants Dream (1984) and Initiation (1987).
He also appeared in the television miniseries Women of the Sun. He was both actor and composer in Where the Green Ants Dream.
He was the author of The Aboriginal Children"s History of Australia.
Marika wrote frequent but unsuccessful letters to the Australian federal government to protest against mining activities on Yolngu lands. Wandjuk Marika was the uncle of Raymattja Marika.