Darrell Sibosado, Barrinvbarr, 2024. Etching, edition of 8 + 2 AP, 70 x 50cm. Courtesy: the artist and N.Smith Gallery, Sydney.

“My work represents different aspects of ceremony, but the whole work talks about ceremony as a way of life…”

Darrell Sibosado is a Goolarrgon Bard man from Lombadina situated on the Dampier Peninsula of the Kimberley coast, Western Australia. His practice explores the innovative potential of the riji (pearl shell) designs within a contemporary context. Passed down over countless generations, the designs represent the detached scales of Aalingoon, the Rainbow Snake, as he rests on the ocean surface, shedding his scales containing traditional knowledge and beliefs.

“These symbols are passed down through the men’s line. They’re not owned, but are part of my brothers’ lives – we all use them and make our own versions of them. As we go further down the line with our sons and grandsons, you can see whose grandchild it is from the designs.”

Using ochre ink to magnify the natural luminescence of the riji designs, Darrell’s works Galalan, Barrinvbarr, and Gumiri relate to his monumental LED installation commissioned by Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain for the Biennale of Sydney. This series stands as a powerful testament to the enduring and ever-relevant vibrancy of Aboriginal traditions, illuminating traditional Bard designs – reiterating that Aboriginal culture is a living, adaptive culture that undeniably commands a presence in the contemporary space.

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