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Linen Teatowel Bagu Design by Nephi Denham

Based on the traditional fire making implements of the Girringun rainforest Aboriginal people, the artists have created artworks made from clay, timber and string to evoke the spirit of the old people. They have also used other materials, new and recycled, to emphasise the design elements of the bagu.

Traditionally, the firesticks were made up of two parts, the Bagu (body) and Jiman (sticks). Bagu is normally made from the boogadilla (milky pine tree) and Jiman are made from either Jiman (scrub vine) or mudja (wild guava). The bagu form was predominately founded in the shape of a man.

The spirit design was created with traditional clays and the ochre colours are magirra – yellow, gunggu – red, gaba – white and jillan – black charcoal usually applied with wallaby blood.


Bunyaydinyu means “to weave” or “woven”. The artist has drawn on traditional weaving practices to enhance the bagu she has made.

Categories: Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre

Name: Nephi Denham

Language: Girramay

Biography:

Nephi Denham is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the North Murray Area, outside of Cardwell, Queensland. He is based in Tully, Queensland. 

A master craftsman, Nephi’s collection includes woven Mindi baskets, Bagu sculptures and paintings. He is renowned for his wonderful grasp of form and precise lines. An assisting artist on the Chainsaw Gunduy Sculpture in 2014, Nephi maintains a focused interest in sculptural formats. Drawing from his rich cultural heritage, Nephi’s art reflects his family’s stories and the environment in which he grew up in. Nephi is also a speaker of his traditional Girramay language.

Nephi’s work is included in a number of private and public collections. He has been the recipient of the The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and The Strand of Ephemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).

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© the artist / art centre