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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, spears and clubs for protection of their lives and territory, objects for ceremony and to mark sacred sites.

Hunting implements include the boomerang, woomera and spear. The woomera is a lever which helps to increase the speed and distance the spear travels. Clapsticks are used as percussion instruments by the Songmen to accompany dancing along with the didgeridoo (mago).

As well as the more functional carvings, artists portray animals and birds in wood, and these carvings are often painted. Ceremonial carvings include spirit creatures including mukuy (devil devils) and mimi.

Some fine mimi figures have been cast in bronze.

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.


© the artist / art centre