SPOTLIGHT ON PEARL SHELL: ARTWORKS FROM THE BUNGALOW

Pearl shell carving in north-west Australia—known as riji—is a culturally significant practice rooted in the traditions of Aboriginal communities such as the Bardi and Jawi people of the Kimberley. Riji are intricately engraved pearl shells traditionally worn by initiated men with their designs symbolising water, ancestral power, and ceremonial identity. The shells are carved with fine linear patterns (ramu) and then rubbed with ochre or charcoal to highlight the engravings. Beyond their ceremonial role, riji have long been valued in regional trade networks and continue to embody deep cultural connections to Country, law, and story across the continent.

Contemporary artists work with pearl shell in ways that reflect both continuity and innovation. Robert Wiggan, a Bardi artist, creates riji that follow traditional forms and meanings, maintaining cultural design conventions together with the ceremonial significance of the material. His works emphasise custodianship of ancestral knowledge and the preservation of cultural identity. In contrast, Stephen Eastaugh, a contemporary Australian artist known for his global travels and mixed-media practice, incorporates pearl shell into modern sculptural and conceptual artworks. While he engages with the material’s natural beauty, his use is exploratory and didactic techniques rather than ceremonial and religious. Both artits create impressive objects that show how pearl shell can continue to resonate in both traditional and contemporary artistic contexts. 

Please enjoy the selection of carved pearlshell below. A price list can be obtained via enquiries@shortstgallery.com.