‘My Grandfather lived in the Great Sandy Desert, with his wives, and his children, gathering food, hunting, gathering wood to make fire, at night they sang and danced camp side as well as going to get water at the water hole.’
– Agnes Frank
Name: Agnes Frank
Language: Juwaliny
Community: Bidyadanga
Biography:
Agnes Frank is a Juwaliny woman and paints tell stories about her Grandfather’s Country, Wili and the Great Sandy Desert. Born in Broome, Agnes has lived in Bidyadanga for most of her life and has been painting with Bidyadanga Artists for many years.
Her works draw from the stories told by her grandparents and their knowledge of desert life. She paints waterholes, sand dunes, bush foods, ceremonies, and family life in the desert. She depicts bush tucker such as bush potatoes (gan), bush onions (junta), and bush nuts (tatartu), alongside stories of the Seven Sisters and the importance of bush medicine.
“This is a story of the sand dunes in the Great Sandy Desert. When it rains the grass grows, the sun rises up, and it’s blue sky again and plenty of waterholes… hunting for goanna, turkey, lizards, seeds, plants and nuts.”
– Agnes Frank
Jalgarmungarr (Bomb Shell) “Bardi people learn to live off the land and the sea. We use certain plants to indicate which animals are good for eating. For example, the wattle flower tells us the mullet Read more…
Untitled This artwork showcases the artist’s skillful use of colour, texture, and technique, reflecting a deep connection to their environment and culture. Each detail embodies the unique identity of Bidyadanga Artists, where the original five Read more…
Untitled This artwork showcases the artist’s skillful use of colour, texture, and technique, reflecting a deep connection to their environment and culture. Each detail embodies the unique identity of Bidyadanga Artists, where the original five Read more…