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Lorrkon (Hollow Log)

The Lorrkon or bone pole coffin ceremony was the final ceremony in a sequence of mortuary rituals celebrated by the people of Arnhem Land. This ceremony involves the placing of the deceased’s bones into a hollow log which was decorated with painted clan designs and ceremonially placed into the ground where it remained until it slowly decayed over many years.

The log is made from a termite hollowed Stringybark tree (Eucalyptus tetradonta) and is decorated with totemic emblems. The western Arnhem Land version of the Lorrkon ceremony involves the singing of sacred songs to the accompaniment of karlikarli, a pair of sacred boomerangs used as rhythm instruments. During the final evening of the ceremony, dancers decorate themselves with kapok down, or today, cotton wool and conduct much of the final segments of the ceremony in the secrecy of a restricted mens’ camp. The complete ceremony may stretch over a period of two weeks, but on the last night the bones of the deceased, which have been kept in a bark container or today wrapped in cloth and kept in a suitcase are taken out, are painted with red ochre and placed inside the hollow log. This ceremony may take place many years after the person has died.

At first light on the final morning of the Lorrkon ceremony, the men appear, coming out of their secret bush camp carrying the pole towards the women’s camp. The two groups call to each other using distinct ceremonial calls. The women have prepared a hole for the pole to be placed into and when it is stood upright, women in particular kinship relationships to the deceased dance around the pole in a jumping/shuffling motion. The Lorrkon is then often covered with a tarpaulin and left to slowly decay.

Name: Samson Bonson


Language: Gurrgoni, Kuninjku


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Samson Bonson (b.1968), a Gurrgoni sculptor, was taught in the late 1990’s by Crusoe Kurddal a notable maker of mimih spirit carvings. 

Bonson is known for the refined carvings and the minute nature of his pointillist decoration on the main body of his mimih carvings.  This quality sees his work in high demand. 

Bonson's work has been selected for the 25th, 26th and 29th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards.  Significant exhibitions of his work include Dream Tracks, Aboriginal Art of Arnhem Land (2006) at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art in the Kingdom of Bahrain and <<rarrk>> (2006) at the Bargehouse Gallery in London.  In 2007 a work was acquired by the British Museum. Internationally, the artist has also been represented by Art Kelch, Freiburg (Germany), and Harvey Arts Project, Ketchum (USA).

His work has also been exhibited by Annandale Galleries (Sydney),  Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi (Melbourne),  Paul Johnstone Gallery (Darwin)  and Vivien Anderson Gallery (Melbourne). Most recently, the artists work is shown at Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney. 


© the artist / art centre