LOFTY NABARDAYAI NADJAMERREK - NGALNG (KANGAROO)
LOFTY NABARDAYAI NADJAMERREK
NGALNG (KANGAROO),
120 x 57 cm
ochres on bark
PROVENANCE
Painted in the Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) region, Northern Territory
Private collection, NSW
gifted by Chairman of Qantas, Mr Jim Leslie
STORY
In the rugged escarpments of Arnhem Land, a lone kangaroo made his journey at first light. His powerful legs carried him across the red earth, his movements graceful yet deliberate. This was no ordinary kangaroo—he was Ngalng, a spirit ancestor whose travels carved the paths of rivers, the contours of hills, and the stories of the people.
As Ngalng bounded through the landscape, his tracks became etched into the earth, marking sacred sites where the spirits lingered. Each leap was a songline, connecting places of water, stone, and sky. The grasses whispered as he passed, and the rocks, warmed by the morning sun, seemed to hum with the energy of his journey. At the edge of an isolated billabong, Ngalng paused, gazing into the still surface. The ripples reflected not only his form but also the timeless spirits of the land, guiding him to ensure the stories he carried would endure through time and change.
Lofty Nabardayai Nadjamerrek’s painting of Ngalng is a powerful testament to the spirit kangaroo and the land he shapes. Nadjamerrek was a member of the Southern Kunjinjku group, artists deeply connected to the stone country of Arnhem Land. This group’s art is distinctive, characterised by relatively unadorned designs and the deliberate use of strong red hatching—a hallmark of their rocky homeland. Nadjamerrek began his career painting on rock near his clan lands, and his deliberate use of a rock art-inspired style serves as a tribute to his ancestors and their connection to the escarpments.
PROFILE
