Namorrorddo, 2021, Shaun Namarnyilk
Acrylic and ochre on canvas, 122 x 183 cm
Provenance: Salon des Refusés 2021, Darwin
Shaun Namarnyilk is the son of Rita Nadjongorle and Bundy Namarnyilk, and is an experienced and multitalented artist, tour guide, musician and storyteller, practising at Injalak Arts in Arnhem Land. The access to many remote and hard to reach traditional rock art sites dating back thousands of years during Shaun’s time as a ranger, provide abundant inspiration for his art practices. He feels a duty to share the stories he learns from rock art through the canvas.
Using the ancient knowledge and aesthetics of his ancestors to create contemporary paintings that span subjects from traditional knowledge and sacred spirit beings to current affairs, Shaun mixes coloured pigments and ochres to create backgrounds which reflect the surface of the rock itself. Developing the West Arnhem ‘x-ray style’ technique, Shaun leaves his canvases out in the rain and continues to build layers, giving his artworks the appearance of the ancient rock art (1).
Namorrorddo was a malevolent spirit that manifested itself as a fiery meteor dashing across the sky. Using his long and sharp claws, Namorroddo would carry the souls of people and hearts of children across the sky (2).