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Bark

 

The bark used for bark paintings is cut from the stringybark tree (Eucalyptus tetrodonta). The bark is cut from the tree during the Wet Season when it is moist and pliable, starting in December and going through until April or May.

The painter cuts around the trunk of the tree at the bottom and top then creates a incision down the tree, joining the two cuts together. This then allows the bark to be carefully seperated from the tree.

To flatten the bark, a fire is first made and burned down to hot coals of the right temperature. The wet bark is placed on the coals and pressed flat, with the outside rough surface in contact with the heat. Most of the moisture is driven out and the bark slowly unbends. The surface to be painted does not come into contact with the fire. The bark is then pressed flat for several days under weights. Finally, sticks are tied tightly across both ends with string in order to prevent warping. The surface is then ready to be painted.

The bark painters of Arnhem Land mainly work with four basic colours: red black, yellow and white, although sometimes the primary colours are mixed to give a pink, orange or grey. Red and yellows come from a variety of iron ochres including hematite, ironstone and limonite. White is generally gypsum or pipeclay and black is made from manganese ore or charcoal. The pigments are ground finely and mixed with water and vegetable fixatives. The most common natural fixative is the gum or resin from local trees. Nowadays the artists more frequently use a commercial acrylic binder.

|oykal

Artwork

bark

H: 0cm W: 0cm

|oykal : fish : Turrum, carangoides emburyi , king fish, enters into freshwater to breed. read more

Ancestral Hunter

Artwork

bark

H: 0cm W: 0cm

The Ancestral fisherman Muwandi stands on the sacred rock that bares the same name. read more

Wayawu in Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Wayawu in Muurru
bark

H: 82cm W: 55cm

The understandings Yolu have of rivers go beyond the mouth. read more

Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Muurru
bark

H: 54cm W: 27cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way, something of a departure from traditional north east Arnhem Land public art. read more

Muurru (rough)

Artwork

Artwork Muurru (rough)
bark

H: 90cm W: 35cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way. read more

Yoku at Wayawu

Artwork

Artwork Yoku at Wayawu
bark

H: 102cm W: 25cm

The miny’tji (sacred clan designs) is Magalili freshwater and talks of |oykal the Kingfish, rotting wood raga (sacred object) under the water and the sacred yoku (corms of the water lily) representing the yothu (children) of the Magalili fed on by the Bilthu (Rifle fish). read more

Yoku at Wayawu and Dharragi

Artwork

Artwork Yoku at Wayawu and Dharragi
bark

H: 178cm W: 57cm

There are two clan groups represented on this larrakitji, the artists Magalili clan and her husbands Dhud-djapu clan. read more

Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Muurru
bark

H: 117cm W: 30cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way, something of a departure from traditional north east Arnhem Land public art. read more

Fishtrap at Dhuruputjpi

Artwork

Artwork Fishtrap at Dhuruputjpi
bark

H: 75cm W: 35cm

Gluma has painted from the Dhudi Djapu clan of her husband Dhukal Wirrpanda Ga`umay is the pelican that inhabits the flood plains at Dhuruputjpi. read more

Muurru ga Miliyawuy

Artwork

Artwork Muurru ga Miliyawuy
bark

H: 168cm W: 31cm

Muurru is a word for saltwter past the tidal zone and shared by Yirritja clans, in this case the magalili, Madarrpa and Dhalwau clans. read more

Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Muurru
bark

H: 134cm W: 38cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way, something of a departure from traditional north east Arnhem Land public art. read more

Muurru ga Miliyawuy

Artwork

Artwork Muurru ga Miliyawuy
bark

H: 112cm W: 53cm

Muurru is a word for saltwter past the tidal zone and shared by Yirritja clans, in this case the magalili, Madarrpa and Dhalwau clans. read more

Gunyan

Artwork

Artwork Gunyan
bark

H: 106cm W: 44cm

Djarrakpi, the Manggalili clan homeland is at the tip of Cape Shield, a promontory overlooking the northern aspect into Blue Mud Bay. read more

Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Muurru
bark

H: 53cm W: 27cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way, something of a departure from traditional north east Arnhem Land public art. read more

Muurru

Artwork

Artwork Muurru
bark

H: 83cm W: 32cm

This painting uses the sacred clan design which denotes the Yirritja moiety Magalili clan identity in a non-figurative way, something of a departure from traditional north east Arnhem Land public art. read more