Ngarrbek (Echidna)

Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek

c. 1926

2009

Kunwinjku

Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Ochre on Bark, Ochres on Arches Paper, Etchings on Paper, Print Media, Rock Art

Mimi Spirit, Kedjebe (File Snakes), Kunj (Kangaroo), Ngarrbek (Echidna), Turtle, Untitled

Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek, also known as Bardayal Lofty, was an Aboriginal artist from Arnhem Land of the Mok clan. He began by painting on rocks before moving on to painting on barks and then paper over a period of at least 30 years. He was an exceptional artist and a leader in the style known as x-ray. Although many Arnhem Land artists moved into multi coloured cross-hatching Lofty continued to feature his cross-hatching in red, a nod to his rock painting heritage.