We have updated our website with new artworks from this week.
Featuring ..
Kulabbarl (billabong)by Larry Bangarr
Ngarrbek (echidna) by Gabriel Maralngurra
Kuluban (bats) by Kevin Gameraidj
Manme (bush foods) by Gwenyth Mangiru
Mandjabu (fish trap) by Shaun Namarnyilk
Ngarrbek by Trevor Nganjmirra
Available online, link on bio
#injalakarts
Namorrorddo, painting by Craig Bangarr.
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Namorrorddo beings are devil-like men who inhabited Arnhem Land during the Dreamtime. They are still present at night in the bush. Namorrorddo is shown with his fighting club, distingished by the split in one end, a special bag around his neck for carrying an axe or bones and a feather ceremonial object in his left hand. The bush string around his upper arms and knees signifies that he is a magic man.
Kunwinjku people believe Namorrorddo can steal the spirits of their dead if they are not laid to rest in the culturally appropriate way. It is said that Namorrorddo traverses the sky in the form of a shooting star, looking for souls to steal.
Check out Craig’s work on our website, link on bio.
#injalakarts #painting
These days Selina Nadjowh and Lorraine Namarnyilk have been printing on tea towels and t-shirt. Trying a couple of new designs you will soon see, and new colour combinations for our existing designs. Stay tuned, updating shop by the end of the week 🌿✨💕
#screenprinting #injalakarts #tshirts #teatowels
Nicodemus Nayibidj and his new painting billabong scene.
Nocodemus has painted various edible fish and reptiles found in the billabongs, watercourses and wetlands that occur throughout Arnhem Land in the 'Top End' of Australia. The kinga (saltwater or estuarine crocodile) is a highly respected and feared animal that has significance as a food source and a totem to many Aboriginal people in western Arnhem Land. Although the kinga has a fearsome reputation its main diet is fish: namarnkol (barramundi), the renowned game fish, kuluybirr (saratoga) and borokko (water python).
This and many more beautiful artworks are available through our website. Injalak.com, link in bio.
#painting #injalakarts
Another beautiful piece by master weaver Priscila Badari. Beautiful natural colours from west Arhem.
Marebu is the general Kunwinjku term for woven mats. These were traditionally valuable items. Some were used as working surfaces, others were worn and others used during ceremonial occasions.
Traditionally these items would have been woven from plain pandanus, but today they are usually coloured with natural dyes. It is possible that the use of natural dyes was encouraged by missionaries, influenced by what they had seen on Pacific islands. However it would have been local women, with their knowledge of local plants and bush medicines, who would have carried out the experimentation necessary for such a rich dye repertoire.
The most common dyes include:
Yellow-orange: Mandjurndum (the bright orange roots of the Pognolobus reticulatus bush)
Brown: Wirdilwirdil (the red bulb of Haemadorum breviculae grass)
Green: The growing shoot of the pandanus itself (Pandanus spiralis) boiled with the ashes of pandanus leaves
Purple-pink – Windilk (the seeds of the Haemodorum coccineum plant, related to Kangaroo Paw)
Grey-Black – Manbedde (the leaves of the quinine bush, Petalostigma pubescens)
Theo Gulamuwu with his beautiful family Edwina and gregoryanna, and his new beautiful creation. “Freshwater animals” painting on Lorrkon.
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The subject of the painting are some of the animals found in freshwater rivers and billabongs in the artist’s country. They are a major source of food for the Kunwinjku people who live in and around Oenpelli in western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The animals are painted with mandem the waterlily which is found in many waterways and provides food for humans and animals.
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The Lorrkon is a log, naturally hollowed out by termites, which was traditionally used as a coffin for burials and ceremonies. The Kunwinjku people of Western Arnhem Land painted these with ceremonial designs and used them to store the bones of deceased relatives.
Theo’s work is available through our website, link on bio.
#lorrkon #painting #injalakarts
How cool is this new Kinga (crocodile) Painting by Shaun Namarnyilk. Acrylic on bonnet from the dump.
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Shaun is a multi- disciplinary artist, experienced in painting, music and storytelling. He is also a tour guide and has also worked as a ranger, caring for the stone country of west arhem land.
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His aesthetic continues to develop, drawing on ancient rock art stories and styles of Injalak hill. Particularly interested in the textures of the hills, he creates backgrounds which reflect the surface of the rock and continues to build layers full of stories both ancient and of the everyday.
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Shaun is constantly experimenting.
He has been working on large pieces with exciting plans ahead. For now check out some of his smaller artworks on our website, link on bio.
#injalakarts #shaunnamarnyilk
Gabriel Maralngurra was among the founding members of Injalak Arts in the late 1980s, and continues to be a driving force behind the art centre today.
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Painting at Injalak since 1989 Gabriel's artistic practice is reflected in the breadth and depth of the subjects he paints, his fluent linework and highly original compositions.
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He is continually inspired by the rock art of West Arnhem Land, always referencing and working within this artistic tradition while pursuing formal innovations and new designs. His knowledge of stories, plants and animals gives him a wide range expressive material.
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He is an ambassador and mediator for Kunwinjku culture, having worked many years as a tour guide, Kunwinjku-English translator, Injalak board member and president, screenprinter and travelling widely around Australia for openings and launches. He is currently Co-Manager of Injalak.
Some of his smaller size paintings are available through our website. Link on bio.
#injalakarts #gabrielmaralngurra
A week of women printing in the studio, stocking up our shop with new colours and designs soon 💕
Our screen prints are available on cotton, linen and silk on our Etsy shop, link on bio.
Designs
Yingarna by Injalak women
Water spirit by Gabriella Maralngurra
Water Lillies by Eva nganjmirra
Bush foods by Selina Nadjowh
#screenprinting #womenartists
Merrill Namundja trying out different earring design. With her intricate knot weaving she has created this beautiful pair, to go in its little basket.
We have a variety of earrings in our Etsy shop, and we often update it, have a browse, link on bio.
#fibreart #weaving
We have now updated our website with new artworks from this week. A variety of stories, colours and styles. Have a browse in our website, link on bio.
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Injalak Arts in Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) is world renowned for high-quality figurative paintings. The artists of West Arnhem Land have a lineage of more than 40,000 years and their exquisite and diverse paintings can be seen in rock art galleries through the region.
#injalakarts #painting
William Manakgu working of one of his large pieces. William is known for his intricate full rarrk paintings on bark and paper.
To know more about our artists and different styles visit our website, link on bio.
#rarrkpainting #injalakarts #williammanakgu
Today’s printing by Lorraine Namarnyilk and Selina Nadjowh, Priscila Badari helping with the drying.
Design – Bush foods by Selina Nadjowh.
You can find our fabrics on our Etsy shop, link on bio.
#screenprinting
Today’s artworks by Injalak women. From left to right, Mankodjbang (water peanuts) by Priscila Badari , Collecting pandanus by Jennifer Garnarradj And Djerrh (dilly bags) by Gwenyth Mangiru.
We have now updated our website with new works, check them out, link on bio.
#painting #injalakarts
Karlerrh (long Tom fish) by Gleeson Nabulwad, Gleeson is a very talented sculptor, he makes different fish, bird and Mimih spirits.
Karlerrh (Freshwater Long-tom, Strongylura kreffti) is a fish which we also call kurrkabal. The Long-tom went down to the base of Injalak Hill and placed itself there as a rock. You can still see it there today, the Long-tom Dreaming site. The Old People used to take a fishing spear and go and stand on a log over the river, waiting for the Long-toms to come past. They would get washed down from Mandjaworlbidji (the "Big Waterfall" near Gunbalanya) after a big rain, and people would spear them. Or sometimes the fish would be swimming upstream from the billabong. Kalerrh is a long, slender fish and has a long mouth with lots of sharp teeth.
Find Gleeson’s artwork on our website, link on bio.🌿
#carvings #injalakarts
Kurrwirluk (bush stone curlew) by Larry Bangarr.
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We hear Kurrwirluk (the Bush Stone Curlew, Burhinus grallarius) at night. It makes a sound like "Kurrwirluk, kurrwirluk"! In the day time, we see it walking around in the forest. It sits in the shade. We don't eat kurrwirluk, the meat is no good. But I'm not sure, maybe in the old days people used to eat them.
Check out Larry’s artwork in our website, link on bio.
#injalakarts
Coiled baskets by Marietta Nayinggul.
These baskets are made from natural, local materials sourced from the Gunbalanya area. Weavers gather fresh young leaves from the pandanus palm using a hooked stick, then strip and dry them. The pandanus is then boiled up on the campfire with local plant dyes.
Today's coiled fibre works are the result of rich cultural exchange and artistic innovation. The coiling technique was traditionally used by southern Aboriginal people of the Murray River, and was introduced to Goulburn Island by missionary Greta Matthews in the 1920s. From here it spread amongst Aboriginal people throughout Arnhem Land. These works are living embodiments of Australia's history. Kunwinjku women have been developing the artform for almost 100 years, experimenting with new forms and adapting it to local materials.
#fibreart #injalakarts
Women create a range of fibre art, from large scale weavings to earrings. We have a huge variety of earring designs available on our online shop which will be open again on Monday.
This is Priscila Badari working on this beautiful pair. Women use pandanus leaves and natural dyes collecting from the bush.
#fibreart #weaving
Yawkyawk (water spirit) weaving by Haley Bangarr. Using pandanus leaves and natural dyes.
Yawkyawk is the Kunwinjku term used for young women but also for female water spirits that have fish tails as shown in this work. Sometimes they are described as ‘mermaids’ who live in trees and water in special places in West Arnhem Land. Yawkyawk start out in a tadpole-like form, as they get older they grow fish tails and spend most of their time in the water but are able to sit on the banks of billabongs. When fully grown they are able to change their tails into legs and walk on land to forage for food. They also change into dragonflies at the end of the wet season, which signifies to the bininj (aboriginal people) the rains have finished. Yawkyawk are said to have namarnkol (barramundi) as pets and that Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent serves as their protector. These spirits are guardians of sacred waterholes.
This artwork is now available through our website, link on bio.
#weaving #fibreart #injalakarts
Nicholas Bangarr is the son of Larry Bangarr and twin brother of Craig Bangarr, all of them artists at Injalak.
Nicholas often depicts in his painting wildlife around Gunbalanya including kinga(crocodile), borlokko (water python), karr (spider), among others.
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Borlokko (the water python, Bothrochilus fuscus) lives in and around fresh water, and is an important food source for the Kunwinjku people of West Arnhem Land. Men and women go and look for borlokko by searching around for them in the water with their hands. In the same hunting expedition, people would often be looking for kedjebe (file snakes, Acrochordus arafurae) and ngalmangiyi (long-necked turtles, Chelodina rugosa). Borlokko are non-venomous reptiles, but are capable of swallowing prey larger than themselves by dislocating their jaw. They are nocturnal, feeding on a variety of animals as well as the eggs of the brolga.
Nicholas works are available online, link on bio
#painting #injalakarts
New fibre artworks in progress using pandanus leaves and natural dyes.
A reminder, Our Etsy shop will be open again on the 11th January. Where you can purchase fabric, clothing, bags and fibre artwork.
#injalakarts
Allan Namaniyuo aka the power ranger playing his newly painted mako.
Allan grew up in Gunbalanya and learned to paint from his Grandfather and Father in Maningrida. He paints in both acrylic and ochre and is inspired by the stories painted on Injalak Hill and the plants and animals that live around his home in West Arnhem Land.
Allan is also an Injalak Hill Tour Guide and ranger.
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There are two things which we call “mako”. One meaning of mako is a didjiridu, which we blow when we sing songs and dance. The other meaning is “gun”. People go and look for didjiridus in the forest. They knock on trees and listen for hollow ones. Then they cut it down, and make a didjiridu for playing. To get that other type of mako, which we shoot, we have to go and buy it with money.
#didjridu #injalakarts
Welcome 2021, and welcome wet season !
This is a great time for artists to harvest barks. Have a look at our website to see the barks now available and keep tuned for new creations coming during this beautiful time in west arhem land.
There are also videos in our media archive showing the process of collecting barks.
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The most common bark used for bark painting is from manbordokorr (Eucalyptus tetradonta or stringy bark). Bark for painting must be harvested when the sap is flowing freely in the tree and the bark is moist and supple. This is mostly during the Kunwinjku seasons of kudjewk (the wet season, around Decemeber to March) through to yekke (the cold season, from June to early July). The sheets are then flattened and dried over a fire or in the sun, and the surface smoothed with a piece of sandpaper, or with a knife. Knowledge of country and seasons is essential for Kunwinjku art.
#barkpainting #wetseason #injalakarts
Amos Nganjmirra is back at the centre working on a new painting of water lilies and fish, using a Manyilk to create beautiful fine rarrk #wip #amosnganjmirra #painting #contemporaryart
Thanks for a great year!
Happy 2021 everyone ✨💃🏽🔥🌿❤️
These are the nine most liked posts of 2020. 😯
#happynewyear #injalakarts
Seasons greetings from Injalak Arts ⭐️🎄❤️
FREE SHIPPING within Australia
Our talented artists and craftspeople make artworks year round in remote Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory inspired by their culture and local environment. All items offered for sale are made in Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) and the homelands. All arts and crafts sold through this store will include a Certificate of Authenticity. We are delighted to be able to share them with you as they become available and update stock regularly. Injalak Arts is owned by the artist members and all proceeds go to our Association, which is now a registered charity. Buying from us is sustaining our members and encourages them to continue making beautiful artworks! ⭐️ link in bio or go to Injalak.com/shop⭐️ #injalakarts #painting #backinjalak
William Manakgu ⚡️🔥 Sneak peak of a major new work that’s almost finished just in time for William’s Christmas break! #williammanakgu #rarrk #contemporaryart #painting
Melody Wood is the niece (korlonj, brother’s daughter) of Ganbaladj Nabegeyo, a community leader and master weaver in Gunbalanya. Under Ganbaladj’s tutelage, she has stepped up to become a master weaver in her own right.
Melody’s practice centres on pandanus sculpture. These are two dimensional works depicting ancestral beings and animals of Western Arnhem Land, the shapes constructed from a frame of water vines filled in with knotted pandanus.
Her work is characterised by tight weaving, inventive forms and bright colours, the vine-framed cells almost reminiscent of stained glass. Melody has woven an incredible Namarnkol (barramundi). Namarnkol are a very important fish for Bininj (Aboriginal People), not least because of their abundance and delicious flavour. Melody has woven striped patterns into the fish, which recall the single-hatched rarrk painting renowned in West Arnhem Land. When barramundi are painted in this manner, they represent Dreaming sites on ancestral lands. Barramundi are hermaphrodites and most of the mature large fish are females which are lay millions of eggs. Melody has made this enormous woven barramundi with two little ones inside, representing fertility and rebirth. Young sprats which are often found at the bottom of waterfalls around West Arnhem Land are also significant; they are the spirits of unborn children, waiting to be born. This work is a fantastic example of West Arnhem Land art, which weaves together knowledge of ecology, clan estates, biology, culture and food. ⭐️Available online now, link in bio or go to Injalak.com/shop and click on our fibre art section⭐️ #melodywood #fibreart #fibresculpture
Injalak band sending the best wishes for everyone this Christmas and getting ready to play this week for the community’s Christmas party at the club!
#goodvibes #music #injalakband