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Published by CompNet Systems on

Clapsticks

Wood carving has always been part of Aboriginal culture. Men carved wood for many purposes – tools for hunting or gathering food, axes and knives for building shelters, spears and clubs for protection of their lives and territory, objects for ceremony and to mark sacred sites.

Artists source the timber on country, walking from tree to tree to find the right piece for the desired functional outcome. Once found, it is cut and then brought back to camp to be worked, shaped, sanded and finally finished.

Clapsticks are used in traditional ceremony and dance as a percussion instrument to accompany Mago (didjeridu). Denser woods such as Ironwood or Kerosene wood are preferred due to their crisper clap sound. Clapsticks can be left raw or painted and decorated. Straight timber from younger trees is preferred as it requires less work to make functional.

Categories: Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation

Name: Eric Malibirr

Language: Yolngu, Kriol, Wägilak, Ganalbiŋu, Ritharrŋu

Community: Gapuwiyak

Biography:

Eric learned to paint from his uncle Roy Ashley, father, grandfather and eldest brothers. Eric describes always watching and learning from his teachers. "Seven, eight, or nine learned to paint myself." 

"I can make saltwater story, mother's freshwater story, or swamp area story which is my father side."

"I paint, sometime I do carving too. Sometime I make spear or boomerang. Big log (Larrakitj/Lorrkon)."

Eric is a songman and also dances. "Learned when i was 10, 11 age. Start touring around with my uncle Roy Ashley. I dance Wagilag, Ganalbingu, Bongilingy Bongiliny, Mulada."

Eric works with modern acrylic paint but also has worked with traditional ochres.

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© the artist / art centre