Artist: Biddy Long | Title: (Green Bird) Ngatjiri | Year: | Medium: synthetic polymer paint on canvas | Dimensions: 83 x 120 cm
PROVENANCE
Warnayaka Art Centre, NT Cat No. FW6117
Cooee Art, NSW
ARTWORK STORY
Budgerigars are small, bright green birds native to central Australia which are common in the Tanami desert, especially after summer rains. Yapa people hunt for nests, robbing them of eggs and juvenile birds, which are both considered delicacies. They also hunt for adult birds which they kill with killing sticks or 'Karli' (boomerangs) to hit the bird in flight.
The Budgerigar travelled to many sites in Warlpiri country. Each time the flock of ancestral Budgerigar landed, they performed ceremonies, singing and dancing as they flew and roosted in the trees. The sites of these ceremonies are depicted in this painting as concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the bird on the ground and give an indication of the large flocks that can be found in the artist's country.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Lajamanu, NT
LANGUAGE
Warlpiri
BIOGRAPHY
Biddy Long is a Warlpiri artist from Lajamanu, Northern Territory, and the sister of fellow artist Lily Nungarrayi Jurrah/Hargraves. She grew up at Mt Doreen cattle station and later became involved in the bilingual education program at the local school, where she helped teach the Warlpiri language and culture.
Biddy Long initially used ochre for body painting in ceremonial settings before transitioning to acrylics on canvas and linen in 1986 when these mediums were introduced to Lajamanu. While she previously used the surname Jurrah, she now prefers to use Long in honor of her late husband. Her artwork has been widely exhibited across Australia and is featured in significant national collections.
© Adrian Newstead
REFERENCES
Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation. (n.d.). Biddy Yulngarri Long.
JGM Gallery. (n.d.). Biddy Long Yulngarri: Biography.
PROVENANCE
Warnayaka Art Centre, NT Cat No. FW6117
Cooee Art, NSW
ARTWORK STORY
Budgerigars are small, bright green birds native to central Australia which are common in the Tanami desert, especially after summer rains. Yapa people hunt for nests, robbing them of eggs and juvenile birds, which are both considered delicacies. They also hunt for adult birds which they kill with killing sticks or 'Karli' (boomerangs) to hit the bird in flight.
The Budgerigar travelled to many sites in Warlpiri country. Each time the flock of ancestral Budgerigar landed, they performed ceremonies, singing and dancing as they flew and roosted in the trees. The sites of these ceremonies are depicted in this painting as concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the bird on the ground and give an indication of the large flocks that can be found in the artist's country.
Artist Profile
COMMUNITY/REGION
Lajamanu, NT
LANGUAGE
Warlpiri
BIOGRAPHY
Biddy Long is a Warlpiri artist from Lajamanu, Northern Territory, and the sister of fellow artist Lily Nungarrayi Jurrah/Hargraves. She grew up at Mt Doreen cattle station and later became involved in the bilingual education program at the local school, where she helped teach the Warlpiri language and culture.
Biddy Long initially used ochre for body painting in ceremonial settings before transitioning to acrylics on canvas and linen in 1986 when these mediums were introduced to Lajamanu. While she previously used the surname Jurrah, she now prefers to use Long in honor of her late husband. Her artwork has been widely exhibited across Australia and is featured in significant national collections.
© Adrian Newstead
REFERENCES
Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation. (n.d.). Biddy Yulngarri Long.
JGM Gallery. (n.d.). Biddy Long Yulngarri: Biography.