Aboriginal Fine Art

Tribe: Djirbalngan

Area: Queensland

Born: 1974

Biography:

Born in far North Queensland, Woodinda is of the Djirbalngan people, and is one of the few artists that paint the traditional stories of the rainforest people. In 1993 Woodinda was first introduced to acrylic paint, and since then has created his artwork on canvas and paper. The artist’s traditional name, Woodinda, was given to him at a young age and is that of a great hunter of the Djirbalngan people. Hunters are of high status in the clan and require many skills such as tool use, tracking, reading the seasons and knowledge of law, song and dance.
Woodinda’s painting communicates the Djirbalngan culture, which his grandmother instilled in him at a very young age. Each piece expresses aspects of Woodinda’s cultural heritage. Over the years his style has evolved as he explores and expresses his ancestral history.
A predominant theme in Woodinda’s art is the depiction of the important foods that were traditionally hunted by men. These include native species of animals such as the goanna, kangaroo, echidna, barramundi and turtle. Woodinda and his family regularly visit many of the principle waterholes and old campsites of the country in which he grew up. In his painting these waterholes are represented by concentric circles of dots. His unique style combines fine line work with traditional dot symbols in a palette of warm, earthy tones to express his people and country.

Awards:

Commissioned Mural, Belgian Gardens State School – Townsville, 1997
Commisioned Art Work, Jirrbal Ranger Station – Ravenshoe, 1998
Awarded High Commendation, Aboriginal Dance and Cultural Festival – Laura, 1999
Published Catalogue, The Fifth National Indigenous Heritage Art Award – National, 2000
Australian Art Collector, Issue 16 (featured artist on back cover) – National, 2001
Asthma New South Wales, ‘Bush Poet of the Year’ Award, auction donated artwork – Sydney, 2002