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Peter Nabarlambarl
Australian Aboriginal Artist
Peter Nabarlambarl Alternative spelling : Balambarr Other Names : Manakali Dob: 1930 Died: 16/8/2001 Clan: Djordi Language: Kunwinjku Area: Gunbalanya (Oenpelli)
Subjects:
Brolga, Manmoyi crossing, Mimi, Namarrkon, Djingana from Gamagawan, barramundi, didjeridu, kangaroo, Arnwak tree [edible fruit] Sugarbag man, Sugarbag woman, Emu, yam Catfish, turtle, goanna, saltwater fishing, dingo, marrimarniyi country, Gingana [rainbow serpent] Manimaniyi, crocodile & barramundi, Burranyila, his mothers country, Nadjirikarni country, wakwak story,
Awards:
2000, Winner, Best works on paper, Telstra, National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Collections Held:
Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth,
National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne,
The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica U.S.A.,
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Group Exhibitions:
1982, Aboriginal Art at the Top, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
1990, Keepers of the Secrets, Aboriginal Art from Arnhemland Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth.
1992, The Ninth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of NT Darwin.
1994, Power of the Land Masterpieces of Aboriginal Art, National Gallery of Victoria.
1997, Telstra National Aboriginal Art Awards.
2000, Australian Heritage Commission's 5th National Indigenous Art Award.
2000, Winner National Aboriginal Art Awards, Best works on paper, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Selected Bibliography:
Altman, J., and Cook, P., 1982, Aboriginal Art at the Top, exhib. cat., Maningrida Literature Production Centre, Maningrida.
O'Ferrall, M., 1990, Keepers of the Secrets, Aboriginal Art from Arnhemland in the Collection of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth. (C)
1994, Kunwinjku Art from Injalak 1991-1995, The John W. Kluge Commission, Museum Arts International Pty- Ltd., North Adelaide.
Peter Nabarlambarl was blind for the last 12 months of his life because of eye problems when he died in 2001. He had been married twice and has 3 sons and 2 daughters. Neither of his sons have gone through their age grading ceremonies, and so he has not passed on to themhis stories and designs, which it appears will now die with him althoughhis daughter, Natalie Guymala has now begun to paint in the same style as her father. He was one of the only surviving members of his clan who paints, and is held in high regard by collectors, museums and art galleries. His works have also been illustrated in authentic art books. Anthropologists used to use Peter as their guide and mentor when they visited rock art sites. He knew many sacred sites in Western Arnhem Land,and the myths attached to the rock paintings. He was very nimble for hisage and would outstrip much younger men when clamoring up steep Injalak hill at Oenpelli, one of the more accessible rock galleries, where there are many paintings in caves and ledges.
He was taught to paint on bark by his father and grandfather, and his style is very like that seen on rocks in the escarpments, which stretch for 300 miles from Kakadu to Maningrida. Like most of the Oenpelli artists he preferred to paint on Arches Rives paper (100% cotton). Peter was one of the last true rock artists alive.