Dillybag The dilly bag was traditionally used as a woven collecting basket. These baskets or bags made from varied natural materials, such as sand palm, pandanus or vine were and sometimes are, used to collect a variety of foods such as fish caught in conical fish traps, collections of yams Read more…
Lorrkon The Lorrkon is a hollow log coffin used by the people of Arnhem Land, Australia. It consists of a tree trunk hollowed out by termites and painted by a clan member of the deceased, with the bones placed inside. The Lorrkon ceremony is the final ceremony in a sequence of Read more…
Karrakbal dja nuye kunmurrng (Moon man and his bones) The subject matter of this bark is ‘Death’ and its connection to the conflict, as told in the ‘Dreaming’ stories, between the Moon and the Quoll about the fate of humanity. According to local mythology, the Moon (Dird) is associated with Read more…
Karrbarda (Long Yam) The karrbarda used to be a very important bush tucker. It grows in sandy soil and sometimes gets as big as half a meter long. The time to dig karrbarda is in yekke (early dry season) when the leaves are still green but the flowers and fruits Read more…
Mandem (Waterlily) Waterlilies grow all over billabongs around the Territory’s Top End, most commonly in Kakadu and West Arnhem Land. Also known as the Lotus Flower and in Kunkwinjku language Mandem, Mandem live metres deep in water, with one large circular green leaf (lily pad) that floats on the surface of the Read more…
Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) is a most important ancestor spirit in western Arnhem Land and appears in various manifestations in Kunwinjku mythology. Ngalyod is daughter to the Mother One, Yingarna. Commonly Ngalyod is depicted with waterlily’s or palms growing from her serpent body, these attributes are said to be Read more…
Bikkurr (Eel-tailed Catfish) The artist has depicted bikkurr (eel-tailed catfish), this is a common food source for Bininj of West Arnhem Land and can be found all year round, especially in the west seasons. Other names for the bikkurr include marrnunj, makurl, and ganbaldjdja, and konjkonj to describe a young catfish.
Djakarna (Jabiru) Black-necked stork, also known as the jabiru. Associated with the yirridjdja moiety. Using acrylic over arches paper, this artist is depicting common birds found in the landscape of the Kakadu and surrounding West Arnhem region. A Jabiru family is protecting their nest of eggs among the pandanus
Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters) ‘Kungkarrangkalpa’ (The Seven Sisters or Pleaides) is significant Tjukurrpa (dreamtime). Its origins you may be familiar with in astronomy and its connection to ‘Wati Nyiru’ (Magic Man or Orion). The roots of this dreaming stems across indigenous groups around the world. The Australian Aboriginal songline is one Read more…
Art Centre notes: The bag is made of natural raffia / jute. It is made using a traditional ‘one twist’ method. The dyes are commercial and colour fast.