Ochre, bark, fibre, wood

The art of Arnhem Land
from the collection of the
Art Gallery of Ballarat

Although Arnhem Land is an integral part of Australia, travelling to this part of the Northern Territory can seem like travelling to another country. It is not just a matter of the physical remoteness of the region; this is a place where indigenous languages - and there are many of them - are still spoken and where age old customs, tribal law, ceremonies and art are still part of every day life.

This exhibition is sourced from the collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, which since 2004 has been actively collecting the art of Arnhem land - Bark paintings, carved wooden sculptures and woven objects. The show explores how family ties and ceremonial practices pervade the material culture of the indigenous people of Arnhem Land from the western stone country to the salt water country of the east.