Five Languages Coming Together “I know it’s Karajarri land. We got Karajarri rock — three of them. There’s a salt place. There’s Bidyadanga. That’s called Black Rock. Did they tell you the story for that place?” – Bernadette Thomas This artwork reflects the artist’s connection to Bidyadanga, a place where Read more…
Kulyakartu “Kulyakartu is my ancestor ngurra (home) through my grandmother and my great-great-grandfather and grandmother. Going out on Country with Nola and Muuki and hearing their stories of Kulyakartu touched my heart — listening to them talk about travelling through Kulyakartu with their mum and dad. It was an experience Read more…
Fishing at Japulu “I paint about fish, stingray, and crab. I paint any kind of fish. I use blue, green, white, and purple to represent the water. We catch fish to cook up and eat. When we get fish, we also share it with families. People are happy to receive Read more…
Feeding Season “Bardi people learn to live off the land and the sea. We use certain plants to indicate which animals are good for eating. For example, the wattle flower tells us the mullet are good to eat; their fat and their eggs are best when the wattle is flowering. Read more…
Nyangumarta Warrarn (Country) “This painting represents the rocky outcrop and all the different areas of claypans, and the dark area represents all the jurnga (sands) in the cool time, warri. All the light yellowish colour represents the paru (spinifex). I like to go out working with the rangers and all Read more…
Kulyakartu “I paint mainly about Kulyakartu Country and Kirriwirri Country. Both are in the Great Sandy Desert in the Pilbara. These places mean home to me — Ancestors’ homes, my family’s home, my nanna’s home. I paint because we don’t get out on this Country often and painting is a Read more…
Bush Medicine “This is a painting about bush medicine. It’s been boiled up. You boil it up and it turns into a burgundy sort of colour. Smells like eucalyptus. It is used for sores, rash, any skin condition. It’s a white gum tree.” – Georgina Walbidi This artwork honours the Read more…
Wili (My Grandfather’s Country) “This painting shows my Grandfather’s Country (Wili), where they used to walk around in circles searching for bush tucker and water from the waterholes. When our ancestors came out from the Canning Stock Route, they used to see big mob of sand dunes and flowers. This Read more…
Yulpu “The story is about Yulpu — old people’s ngurra (home Country, camp). They were walking around together, looking after each other — malpa (keeping each other company). You know, women carrying water on their heads with a piti (bowl) and carrying gigi (children) on their backs. That was pujiman Read more…
Nyangumarta Warrarn (Country) “This painting represents the rocky outcrop and all the different areas of claypans, and the dark area represents all the jurnga (sands) in the cool time, warri. All the light yellowish colour represents the paru (spinifex). I like to go out working with the rangers and all Read more…