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Ngarradj (Sulphur Crested Cockatoo)

This piece was carved by Harold Goodman and painted by Irene Henry. Irene and Harold are partners that live at the Kakadu Outstation of Kapalga. Irene’s family are from Tiwi islands, which are represented through her artistic narrative of painting.

“My cousin brother, Sebastian, used to make bird’s. Roy’s dad used to make the Jabiru bird. Then Harold got the idea of doing Cockatoo. My Grandmother was an artist, my sister Aileen was an artist, so I’ve got it in my blood. Harold picked up carving really quick like Sebastian. Harold has to look at the tree first to see if it’s strong enough [for carving], you can tell when that stringy bark peels off, then you can see if it’s right to cut it and do carving.” – Irene Henry

Name: Irene Henry & Harold Goodman


Language: Tiwi, Limilngan


Community: Jabiru


Biography:

I grew up in Darwin and then I stayed at Humpty Doo for three years and then moved to Kakadu, to my homeland Kapalga. I learnt how to paint from Rhonda (Henry), and my sister, Aileen. I used to see her and watch her paint when I was a young teenager, then I started doing it. For the carving, I learnt from Sebastian Tipiloura, but he passed away now, I watched him and learned. Me and Harold met here (Kakadu) in 1984 and we’ve been a couple ever since. We have six children. Harold and I were carving little birds, like old Sebastian used to do. Then I said to Harold, ‘We should do something different’ and he said, ‘why don’t we do Cockatoo’s.’ So we both make the Cockatoo’s.”


© the artist / art centre