Bardjarai Oenpelli Bark Painting
The aim of this article is to assist readers in identifying if their bark painting is by
If you have a
Bardjarai like most Oenpelli Bark painters painted on a Red ochre back ground. He was a prolific painter and painted a vast variety of subjects. His paintings of figures at a ceremony are the most popular and collectible. These figures can be quite simple but are full of movement and life.
Only in a few of his early works depict the genitals. In his later paintings, his figures are full of Rarrk crosshatching but lack some of his earlier sense of movement. His paintings of animals are superficially similar to Bardayal and Dick Murramurra but do not show quite the same sense of refinement.
He has painted at least two barks depicting skeletons. He also paints the sugar bag woman, mimi figures and Hunting scenes. Animals include birds, barramundi, crocodiles, spiders, mosquitos, snakes, the rainbow serpent, and dugong.
Along with many other Arnhem Land Artists who did bark paintings, there is not a lot of information available about Bardjarai. If anyone knows more information about the biography of Bardjarai, please contact me as I would like to add it to this article.
Bardjarai can also be known as Barrdjaray, Bardjaray, or Bajaray
All images in this article are for educational purposes only.
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Western Arnhem land Artists and Artworks
Bardjarai Bark Painting images
The following images is not a complete list of the artists works but gives a very good idea of his style and variety.
