Summer in Canberra finally came, and my partner and I set up some new shroud experiments on the property of Tony and Steve. Many thanks to their support and to local hunter Paul for the rabbits.

A cultural hub in the Gunbalanya community is the Injalak Arts centre where visitors can meet local artists and see exquisite painting, fibre and sculptural arts being created. I encountered a significant ochre painting on bark by highly skilled painter Graham Badari, which I purchased. I then had the privilege of sitting down with Graham with the painting and listening to the associated stories. The spirit depicted is very powerful and is named Namorrodoh, the shooting star spirit.

The work was exhibited in September 2008 at Mossenson Galleries, Melbourne at the ‘Sex, Spirits and Sorcery’ exhibition along with many other phenomenal works by Graham.
I sat with Glen Namundja while he painted and showed me how to grind, not crush, ochre and mix with glue. You can see my crushing attempts with my own ochre in the background.

Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) is an indigenous community where Kunwinjku is spoken and traditional arts and ceremony is practiced. As Balanda (outsider) I began a process of learning and integration which unveiled the rich creative spring of cultural connection to country and its ecological diversity.

Some cauldron action with the help of my father Tibor and brother-in-law Jason Harding’s skill with a camera. The images demonstrate my attempts to use a non chemical means of neutralizing the bacteria that produces a shroud’s abject smell (which will reduce naturally over an extended period of time).

Unfortunately the possum was taken by a hungry predator, probably a fox who dragged it out from under the wire.
But ranger Murray was there to provide me with another recent car fatality, a lovely female kangaroo. I had canvas just the right size, and he placed her on the canvas suggesting black plastic and wire over her. Adam helped me by covering her with a very secure plastic and wire covering. We hope she will not be disturbed. I will leave her two weeks before my first inspection. The male kangaroo shroud I created on the about page was left uncovered for a month. But as you can see below, his head had already been partially eaten.

I have laid a possum killed on the road in Ainslie on canvas and placed it in a bush site for decomposition print, like the kangaroo on the about page.