This painting depicts three species found in local billabongs around Beswick. Included are a cherabin or freshwater prawn, a catfish and a black bream.
Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paint has been used.
This piece depicts two different species of yams. “Jidamarr” or Cheeky Yam along with its heart shaped leaves can be seen in the middle. This bush tucker can be eaten only after preparation. If the flesh is not properly prepared it is considered poisonous and too cheeky to eat.
On either side are two different yams, known as hairy yams. These are a prized bush tucker and one of the tastiest yams available, somewhat similar in taste to a sweet potato.
Painting has been completed in stark contrast black and white colours using a handmade Jarlk brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style, and consists of three or four lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paint has been used.
This painting depicts three catfish, a tasty haul of fish. Catfish are wrapped in paperbark and cooked slowly in the coals of a fire. Once cooked it tastes very similar to purchased smoked salmon; slightly smokey, slightly oily, and oh so sweet. Not a fish to turn your nose up at!
Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colours. This has been completed using a handmade Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Painting has been done using modern acrylic paints.
This painting depicts multiple bush tools along with Laar’da or shaped stone blades ready to be carried in dillybags. Bush tools can be seen in the middle panel, and include spears, bondocks or woomeras, two dillybags as well as fire starting implements.
Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colours. This has been completed using a handmade Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Painting is in modern acrylic.
This painting depicts wind, bats, and flowers. Wind is shown as “v” shaped marks, while the flowers are five white dots with an inner coloured dot. Bats, a common yet noisy sight around Beswick are also visible on a separate panel.
Painting has been completed using a handmade Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colours. This raark is only visible on the bats, however the Jarlk brush has been used for all fine line work. Modern acrylic paint has been used.
This painting depicts Woolybutt tree gum nuts about to flower. These flowers are a beautiful orange colour and visible partway through the dry season in Arnhem Land. Both the nuts and flowers are an indicator species to let people know that gugu (pronounced Ku-Ku) or sugar bag is ready for harvesting.
Gugu is a highly prized find, and this story is Harry’s mother’s story of which he is Djungai or “ritual policeman” for.
Painting has been completed using a handmade Jarlk brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colour.
This painting depicts “gudwan dagga” or tasty tucker gathered from a local billabong. All are delicious slow cooked on hot coals, usually wrapped in paperbark. At top is a filesnake, below this is a catfish. Another filesnake is present, while at the bottom is a barramundi.
Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colour.
This stark contrast painting depicts a mating pair of freshwater crocodiles protecting their nest of eggs. Included are waterlily plants along with their root yams.
Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paint has been used.
This painting depicts three fish found in local billabongs around Beswick. Included are barramundi and a catfish, along side some lily plants.
Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paint has been used.
This painting depicts four catfish, a tasty haul of fish. Catfish are wrapped in paperbark and cooked slowly in the coals of a fire. Once cooked it tastes very similar to purchased smoked salmon; slightly smokey, slightly oily, and oh so sweet. Not a fish to turn your nose up at!
Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of multiple lines before alternating colours. This has been completed using a handmade Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Painting has been done using modern acrylic paints.