These finely crafted figures represent Mukuy Spirit creatures. The Mukuy belong in Yirritja country called Galanbirni. At night you might hear them playing the Didjeridu. The Mukuy travel around a lot and are often found in sacred places. They are mysterious, sometimes playful and sometimes cheeky characters, often referred to as Devil Devil. Mukuy figures tell the stories of country, culture and spiritual beliefs.
Name: Sylvia Campion
Language: Kriol, Kune, Rembarrnga
Community: Maningrida
Biography:
Sylvia is a talented artist who paints, carves and weaves using a mix of traditional techniques, materials and tools, along with their modern counterparts. Sylvia grew up surrounded by talented artefact makers and absorbed knowledge through a traditional style of apprenticeship.
Helping her father she learned how to harvest and make a traditional grass reed brush called "munjyelk" or jarlk, and then mastered its use painting ochres and modern acrylics. Her father also taught her the art of wood carving.
Her mother and grandmother taught her the art of weaving and hand making bush string. This was also learned by helping and absorbing bush knowledge such as harvesting, stripping, dying, weaving and rolling.
"At 20yrs old I started to paint, carve and weave on my own." Now, Sylvia combines all these techniques creating intricate woven sculptures with carved details finely finished using traditional painting techniques.
Lorrkon Wood carving has always been part of Aboriginal culture and Djilpin artists continue this tradition. Men carved wood for many purposes – tools for hunting or gathering food, axes and knives for building shelters, Read more…
Lorrkon Wood carving has always been part of Aboriginal culture and Djilpin artists continue this tradition. Men carved wood for many purposes – tools for hunting or gathering food, axes and knives for building shelters, Read more…
Nula Nula Wood carving has always been part of Aboriginal culture and Djilpin artists continue this tradition. Men carved wood for many purposes – tools for hunting or gathering food, axes and knives for building Read more…