• Kuluban (Black Flying Fox)
  • Kuluban (Black Flying Fox)
  • Kuluban (Black Flying Fox)
  • Kuluban (Black Flying Fox)

Selina Nadjowh

Kuluban (Black Flying Fox)


Regular price   
  • Artist: Selina Nadjowh
  • Size: 110cm x 22cm
  • Hand painted carving, ochre and acrylic on wood 
  • Cat No 1000-21

 

The Lorrkon or hollow-log coffin ceremony is the final ceremony in a sequence of mortuary rituals celebrated by the people of Arnhem Land. This ceremony might take place many years after the person has died, and involves the placing of the deceased’s bones into a hollow log that is decorated with painted clan designs and ceremonially placed into the ground where it slowly decays over many years.

The Lorrkon (hollow-log coffin) is made from the trunk of a termite-hollowed manbuluduk (stringybark tree, Eucalyptus tetradonta) and is decorated with totemic emblems. The western Arnhem Land version of the Lorrkon ceremony involves the singing of sacred songs to the accompaniment of karlikarli, a pair of sacred boomerangs used as rhythm instruments. During the final evening of the ceremony, dancers decorate themselves with kapok down or, today, cotton wool, and conduct much of the final segments of the ceremony in the secrecy of a restricted men’s camp. The complete ceremony may stretch over a period of two weeks, but on the last night the bones of the deceased, which have been kept in a bark container, or today wrapped in cloth and kept in a suitcase, are taken out, and are painted with red ochre and placed inside the hollow-log coffin.

At first light on the final morning of the Lorrkon ceremony, the men appear, coming out of their secret bush camp carrying the Lorrkon towards the women’s camp. The two groups call to each other using distinct ceremonial calls. The women have prepared a hole for the Lorrkon to be placed into, and when it is stood upright, women in particular kinship relationships to the deceased dance around the Lorrkon in a jumping/shuffling motion. It is then often covered with a tarpaulin and left to slowly decay. 

Selina Nadjowh (b. 1976) is the daughter of Audrey Badari and Timothy Nadjowh. Her Skin Name is Ngalwamud and her Dreaming is Yirridjdja. Selina Nadjowh is an accomplished weaver and painter, known for delicate and finely balanced compositions and the formal beauty of her work.

Marrawuddi Arts and Culture is a beautiful Community Arts Centre located in the repurposed Jabiru Bakery in the heart of the World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. The stunningly renovated building, which welcomes dozens of visitors daily, features a vibrant working space for artists use as well as a beautiful exhibition area and delicious coffee. Tourists are encouraged to spend time with artists and learn about the beautiful artworks available for purchase. The quality of artworks for sale at Marrawuddi is exceptional and all stock is created by artists living in or around the Kakadu and wider West Arnhem region.

Best efforts are made to get your purchase on its way within 2 business days. Postage from Darwin can be slow so please bear with us! 

All works are packed securely to protect during shipping. All items valued over $100 are insured for damage during transit. 

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Items purchased online that are part of an exhibition will be shipped at the end of the exhibition period.