Ngurula (Sea Tern)

Category: Paintings (Oils & Acrylics)

Artwork Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

45.5cm (h) x 40.5cm (w) x 3.5cm (d)

Artist Bio: "I am a Gumatj, Yolngu woman from Yirrkala Community, 800km’s North-East of Darwin, situated on the tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land, NT.

I honestly couldn’t tell you when exactly I started my own artistic journey. Some of my earliest memories are being creative with Mum & Dad at home, and what an incredible privilege to have two diversely creative parents.

My mother, the late Dr B Marika AO (1954–2021), was a truly fierce, strong, amazing woman. She was so incredibly rich with knowledge, and we miss her deeply every day. Mum was taught to paint by my grandfather, Mawalan (1) Marika (1908–1967) with ochres, on stringy bark. Not only was my grandfather an artist, but he was also clan leader of the Rirratjingu bapurru (clan). Rirratjingu are the traditional owners of Yirrkala, where the mission appeared in the 1930s. He was also a statesman who helped initiate Australia’s first Aboriginal land rights case in 1963. My grandfather was also the initial plaintiff in the case, Milirrpum and Ors. v. Nabalco Pty. Ltd. and the Commonwealth of Australia 1971.

I (the youngest of Mum's 5 children) was born in the township of Nhulunbuy in Gove Hospital in ‘93. When I was little Dad and I moved away to Darwin, where we lived for a few years. After which we moved down south to Newcastle, NSW, to be closer to my paternal grandparents. Regardless of my birthplace, both states (NT & NSW) will always be home to me.

As a teenager I returned to Yirrkala to live with Mum. This is when she encouraged me to not only help her in her practice but to really think about my own art practice as well. Mum being one of the first Indigenous printmakers in the country, naturally, this is what led me to becoming a printmaker and arts worker myself. Most holidays were spent with Mum at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts Centre, where I went on to work as a printmaker/arts worker for 3 years.

In 2013 I became a mother myself and after having my second child in 2014 I decided to move back to Newcastle. During my time living in Newcastle, I worked as an independent artist and also with ArtBack NT & Buku with a nationally touring exhibition, Balnhdhurr – A Lasting Impression.

Fast forward to 2021, we lost Mum suddenly and nothing could have possibly prepared me for what felt like being hit by a freight train. I couldn't even contemplate creating anymore, so I just stopped.

I needed something new, somewhere new, a fresh start. By Christmas 2022 my little family and I found ourselves on the other side of the country, right here in Port Hedland, WA. I walked into Spini one afternoon as an artist trying to find my way back to creativity, now 3 years later I am proudly a practising artist again & the Studio Technical Co-Ordinator. Spinifex Hill Studio is such a bright & welcoming space and pivotal in helping me with my healing. "

- Ruby Djikarra Alderton