WARNING

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are warned that this section contains images and voice of the late Bullinj M. Hall, the Black Hawk. Bullinj was the Vice President and a founding member of Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, a songman, performer and artist. Together with Frankie Tango Lane, Bullinj made and painted many of the didjeridus in the Centre. This site is dedicated to the memory of the Black Hawk.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK ON YOUR DIDGERIDU

The Ghunmarn Cultural Centre is located in Wugularr (Beswick) and features the style of this region (Arnhemland). The designs are very intricately formed with fine cross hatching (called rarrk).

The artists have astoundingly steady hands and paint the lines with homemade ‘brushes’. The brush is made with a single thin flexible grass stalk which is inserted in a little piece of wood to make it easier to hold.

Watching these artists at work is nothing short of amazing. They work fast and accurately keeping the cross hatching lines equidistant and perfectly straight.

The artwork tells many stories, some traditional and some contemporary. The art from this region has recognizable animals and food stuffs. Some of the common subjects are file snakes, barramundi, turtles, small fish, bush potato and waterlilies.