Topic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
Ivan Namarnyilk paints precise, thin strokes with his manyilk, a traditional brush made of sedge grass. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
Sitting at a table in a tiny art gallery nestled inside Kakadu National Park, Blaldja artist Ivan Namarnyilk slowly paints precise, thin strokes with his manyilk, a traditional brush made of sedge grass.
But before Namarnyilk even has the chance to finish his pieces, tourists visiting the Marrawuddi Arts and Culture Centre in Jabiru are asking to buy them.
"You gotta be patient, no rushing. We gotta be steady."
Ivan Namarnyilk says his art is "like the country, the animals, the people, everything has connection". ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
Taught by his father, fellow prominent artist Spider Namirrki, at Mudginberri Station, Namarnyilk has been painting "rock art" on paper since he was a teenager.
More than three decades on, Namarnyilk is keeping his culture alive by passing it on to the next generation.
"My art is really, really special," he says.
"It's really special for me and for my future kids.
Known for his detailed, x-ray style works, Namarnyilk mainly uses ochre to paint or scratch-draw local animals and cultural totems before applying his signature, mouth-blown clay handprint.
Ivan Namarnyilk’s art uses natural ochres along with his signature hand print. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
"We use natural colour like red ochre, white clay, yellow ochre," he says.
"I like painting spirit man, kangaroo, echidna, turtle, fish like barramundi or black bream.
"We respect our totems — my father's totem is irritja [wedge-tailed eagle] and my mother's is duwa [mud crab]."
In August, Namarnyilk sold thousands of dollars worth of his art at his first solo exhibition during the Mahbilil Festival in Jabiru.
Ivan Namarnyilk held his first solo exhibition at the Mahbilil Festival in August. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
He says sharing his pieces was "really special" and vital for helping to financially support his family.
"I like helping my community," he says.
Over the past 25 years, more than 500 West Arnhem Indigenous artists have sold pieces at the Marrawuddi Arts and Culture Centre.
Business manager Caron Farrell says the gallery buys artwork "up-front" from about 30 regular makers, with 40 per cent of sales proceeds going towards keeping the centre open.
Caron Farrell says "visitors are quite taken aback to the different styles" on display. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
"This space does all of West Arnhem so it's really important for the artists to be able to bring their art here in all different forms," she says.
Ms Farrell says it's a treat for holiday-makers passing through Jabiru to watch the artists paint, scratch, draw and weave onsite, before taking the pieces back to their homes all around the world.
Demand for Ivan Namarnyilk’s pieces has never been higher, with the proceeds helping to support his family and the gallery. ( ABC News: Dane Hirst )
"It's really important for Jabiru to get the tourists in and keep this place going for that art to be in homes," she says.
"I think they get a bit shocked of how much there is and how vast the art is, like [it's] a little bit different say to central desert, the style.
"Obviously, West Arnhem, it's art that you see on all the rock formations, compared to say, central desert, where it's the dot painting.
"You find visitors are quite taken aback to the different styles that are here."
