Details of Sandbar & Hairbelt

Catalog Number : 2279
Size : 145cm x 600cm
Medium : acrylic on plywood, cotton wool
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For Sale : Contact Short St Gallery
This installation is made up of 25 pieces and reflects the story of Roy's father and the sandbar just north of Cape Leveque off the Bardi Peninsul north of Broome. The central pieces shows the tidal movements over the sand bar and is stuck in the ground throughout the performance of the other two songs that make up this dance. The two either side of the central ilma are the aerial view of the sand bar, they are danced with by six dancers each holding two of the pieces. The song is about Roy's father (Boy Wiggan) he was bought to the sand bar by the strong currents and whirlpools around this region. He trod on the sand bar and found a piece of string, when he pulled it, it was a borrbor or hairbel. This holds a very sacred meaning for Bardi people, it is connected to men's business and we are unable to fully know the significance and implications for Roy's father. It did however act as a premonition of a journey he would later have at sea after a big storm or cyclone. Roy believes that this formed a crucial part of his father's law life.


Borrorr (Hairbelt) 12 pieces @ 52cmx52cm each
Tidal movement (central piece) @ 140x78cm
sand bar aerial 12 pieces @ 43x20cm