Bob Burruwal

[1][2] Growing up, he practiced many Aboriginal Australian art forms creating bark paintings, dancing belts, clap sticks, and didjeridu.

[6] His teaching of traditionally male dominated practices in Maningrida such as making and painting barks and hollow-log coffins to Yarinkura allowed her to experiment and hone other areas of craft.

[7] By developing new techniques and using new materials in their sculptures, Burruwal and Yarinkura created a way to represent their traditional culture while still remaining innovative and contemporary enough to be safely viewed by the public.

[3] This innovation of creating work that appeals to the public and the art market is important for contemporary Aboriginal artists as it poses an intersection between tradition and modernity.

[7] Creating work with this intent became a unique tool for Burruwal and Yarinkura, allowing them room for experimentation and individuality when navigating how to represent their culture without revealing sacred practices.

[5] Buya Male is a three-metre-tall, ornate ceremonial pole decorated with orange, yellow, green, black, and white strings of feathers and twine created by Bob Burruwal in 2016.

[8] The piece, known as a Morning Star Pole or Buya Male in Rembarrnga, is an important symbol of the Marradjirri ceremony of Arnhem Land which is used to strengthen relations and social and economic ties between groups.