Berder. Gaba. Urrknga. Wantja. exhibition at Nishi Gallery
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“Together, the works present diverse perspectives on themes of adaptation, social shifts and connection to place…”
Nishi Gallery’s new exhibition, titled Berder. Gaba. Urrknga. Wantja., opens on Saturday 13 April.
See ceramics by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands artists from across Australia; from Darnley Island in the most north-eastern part of Torres Strait Islands, to Cardwell in Queensland, to Ntaria in Northern Territory, to the Musgrave Ranges in the far north-west of South Australia.
Together, the works present diverse perspectives on themes of adaptation, social shifts and connection to place.
‘Titta & Attie’ by Racy Oui-Pitt of Erub Arts. Photography by Lynnette Griffiths.
The title of the exhibition describes the closest word for ‘clay’ from each place. Berder is a Meriam (Torres Strait Islands) word for ‘mud’. Gaba is a Girramay, Jirrbal and Gulnay (Queensland) word for ‘white clay’; one of four ochre colours used to paint traditional objects. Urrknga is a Western Aranda (Northern Territory) word for ‘clay or dirty mud’.
Wantja is a Pitjantjatjara (South Australia) word for ‘the hard, moist earth; the first sign of water when digging a soakage well’.
‘Tree Trunks’, by Eileen Tep. Image courtesy of Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre.
The exhibition is a collaborative effort by the Remote Communities Ceramic Network who say, “Clay has always had an important role in traditional culture for the Indigenous people.
Creating sculptural works from clay is a process that has developed naturally for artists who are used to working with form and their hands – making baskets, tools and weapons from materials found in the local environment.”
the essentials
What: Berder. Gaba. Urrknga. Wantja.
When: Saturday 13 April to Saturday 1 June. Gallery opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am – 6.30pm
Where: Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane, NewActon
Opening celebration: Saturday 13 April, 2.30 – 4 pm (RSVP here)
One Day Ceramics Shop: Saturday 11 May, 11 am – 4 pm (RSVP here)
Exhibition supported by:
Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program
Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program
The Australian National University, School of Art and Design
Feature image: ‘Bagu with Jiman’ by Theresa Beeron, John Murray, Charlotte Beeron and Ethel Murray. Image courtesy of Girringun Aboriginal Art.
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