Conference Artwork

The Artist

DAVID SHIELDS
(Aboriginal name JUNKLUKBEE)

David’s original clan is Malakmalak from the Daly River region. He was born in the old Darwin Hospital in 1966. Since marrying his wife Joanne, he has lived between Eva Valley and Barunga, Jawoyn country in the Katherine Region. They have four surviving children. He speaks three languages, his first language Malakmalak, the main language spoken in the Barunga community, Kriol and English. His formal schooling occurred in Darwin after being brought up on Humpty Doo station where he learnt about the bush. He comes from an artistic family with both his mother and grandfather being well-recognized artists.   

The Art

David’s grandfather taught him traditional bark painting and the stories of the Daly River region, his country of birth. However, David (with his grandfather’s permission) has embraced his wife’s culture, the Jawoyn people of the Katherine region and his art now reflects the traditions and environment at Barunga, their home.

Joanne’s uncle is a respected artist and by watching him, David learnt the local techniques. Although he uses canvas and commercial paint, as they are more durable than bark and natural pigments he paints with a {rudit}, a brush made from a grass found near the local spring that is then prepared so that it forms five strands and has a characteristic brushstroke. The paintings then have characteristic cross-hatching in a style known as raark.

When David approaches a canvas, he has no preconceived idea of the painting “it comes through the brush.” “Painting gets rid of pressure – gets things off my mind.”

When David begins a piece, he starts with the border then a shadow of the centerpiece, fills in the centerpiece then does the surrounds. In the ASAM painting, “mimi represent the people, people who are sick and need help, they are happy, dancing to music because help is coming”.

David has had a number of jobs from mechanic to store manager and is currently a teacher’s aid at the Barunga High School. He designed the logo for Katherine Regional Schools Group. In the logo there are thirteen small turtles representing the thirteen schools surrounding a snake, which is the school, and in the centre a large turtle which represents the teachers. David finds the work with children very satisfying and has plans to study to become an art teacher. He feels he has a good relationship with children in general but artwork would provide an extra dimension. Artwork would give the students some wet season activity when it is too saturated for outdoor exercise and allow them creative expression.

The art work for the conference has donated by Dr William Pettigrew.

 

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