Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation

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Bird

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.

Carved from Kurrajong, finished in Ochre paint.

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Bird

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.

Carved from Kurrajong, finished in Ochre paint.

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Witchety Grub

Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques.

Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas, along with modern paintbrushes. Bernadette sometimes paints using a stippling effect (modern paintbrush), a modern panting style (fish using a modern brush for example), raark (fine line work using a jarlk brush), or dots (using the end of a jarlk brush).

Painted entirely using modern acrylic paints.

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Raark on log

Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques.

Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas, along with modern paintbrushes. Bernadette sometimes paints using a stippling effect (modern paintbrush), a modern panting style (fish using a modern brush for example), raark (fine line work using a jarlk brush), or dots (using the end of a jarlk brush).

Painted entirely using modern acrylic paints.

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Raark on log

Bernadette’s painted logs are often offcuts from mako or didjeridu manufacture. Rather than wasting the pieces or relegating them to the fire, Bernadette collects these, sands them smooth and then experiments with different painting techniques.

Painted using a combination of brushes; handmade traditional Jarlk grass reed brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas, along with modern paintbrushes. Bernadette sometimes paints using a stippling effect (modern paintbrush), a modern panting style (fish using a modern brush for example), raark (fine line work using a jarlk brush), or dots (using the end of a jarlk brush).

Painted entirely using modern acrylic paints.

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Yok

This yok, or bandicoot sculpture has been created from pandanus and stuffed with paperbark to keep its shape. Details such as ears and legs are crafted from beach hibiscus wood. The piece has then been finished in acrylic paints using modern paintbrushes.

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mermaid, crocodile + barra

This painting depicts two freshwater crocodiles, one of which is diving. On either side is a barramundi and a mermaid spirit – a culturally important story.

Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of three or four lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paint has been used.

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Billabong

This painting depicts multiple animals found in billabongs surrounding Beswick. Included are multiple eel tail catfish, three file snakes, a water goanna and a freshwater crocodile. Also included are two water lily plants along with their yam roots. All are gudwan dagga, or tasty tucker.

Painting has been completed using a handmade grass reed brush called Jarlk. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style and consists of three or four lines before alternating colour. Modern acrylic paints have been used.

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Hairy Yams

This painting depicts three bush yams, sometimes known as hairy yams. These are a prized bush tucker and one of the tastiest yams available, somewhat similar in taste to a commercially bought sweet potato.

Painting has been completed in stark contrast colours using a handmade Jarlk brush harvested from local billabongs and wet areas. Raark or fine line work is in Yirritja style, and consists of three or four lines before alternating colours.

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Gumnuts

This painting depicts gumnuts along with their respective leaves. Gumnuts are important to Bernadette as she collects them, paints them, and turns them into jewellery.

“They call me gumnut lady. All them Balanda from down south”.

Dots behind the gumnuts are in Central Australian style from her time growing up in Ali Curung. This decoration detail has been completed using the end of a grass reed. Piece has been completed using modern acrylic paints.