Thama (fire) and jinda (charcoal): When you get the marruwa (snakewood) and make fire, you see it burning, burning, burning. After the fire burns the wood becomes black, jinda (charcoal). And then the ash comes. Marruwa is the best stick to burn because it burns so hot.
Name: Marlene Harold
Language: Yindjibarndi
Biography:
Marlene Harold was born on Mt Florence Station in the Millstream Tablelands. She did some schooling in Nullagine and Marble Bar, finishing her education in Roebourne when her family was moved to the Roebourne Reserve. She has a son, two brothers and a sister. Marlene started painting late in 2006 at Yinjaa-Barni Art doing a TAFE short course in art and design. A quiet yet active participant in class, she revealed herself to be an enthusiastic socialiser among friends and family, with a witty sense of humour and a strong artistic aptitude. Marlene enjoys learning new techniques and quickly adapts them to her own style. This is reflected in the ease with which she currently moves between styles. Marlene employs a variety of techniques such as dot painting with splatter and stick work to create her artworks. Her stick and splatter style are very effective, with a choice of colours that complement each other and give her paintings an impressionistic look. With her stick technique, sometimes using highly charged colours, at other times subtle blends of colour, Marlene creates striking pieces of contemporary art. She likes painting grasses and sites and ancestral stories from her country. In 2010 Marlene was invited to exhibit her works at the Japingka Gallery in Fremantle with three other established artists from different areas in Australia. Marlene was the first of the Yinjaa-Barni Art members to be afforded this opportunity by Japingka, a reflection of her artistic strength. Marlene has won two prizes at the Cossack Art Awards and is represented in many private collections in Australia. Marlene's artwork has been collected by the Queen in 2011 and she was also the feature artist on the Darwin Art Fair Magazine and promotional material in 2023.
Mulla Mulla & Bluebells Purple Mulla Mulla grows among the grasses, blending beautifully with the bushes.