Elcho Island Arts
Elcho Island, located in the Arafura Sea off the coast of north-east Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory, is a place unlike any other on earth.
Blessed with rugged yet beautiful tropical landscape - stunning beaches, aqua seas, cycad forests, unique wildlife and rare rock formation it is home to the Yolngu people and their rich and beguiling culture.
Approximately 550 km north-east of Darwin, Elcho Island is know worldwide for its many cultural exports. Famous artists who call Elcho Island home include ARIA award-winning musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the cheeky Chooky Dancers, and hundred of visual artists who create traditional and authentic Aboriginal art that is exhibited and held in major collection nationally and internationally.
About Us
Elcho Island Arts operates out of the Marthakal Arts Hub in Galiwinku (the main community on the island). The Arts Hub, which is situated on a cliff offering stunning panoramic views of local beaches and surrounding islands, has two galleries, a retail outlet, an artist's workshop and print studio and offices (and soon two outdoor decks and a small cafИ).
Community operated since 1992, the primary function of Elcho Island Arts is to support Yolngu artists to share their culture and derive an income from their creative endeavours. This is achieved through the collection, promotion and distribution of authentic Aboriginal art and craft to a range of markets across Australia and overseas.
Art Styles
Over its history Elcho Island Arts has earned a strong reputation for the quality of work produced by its artists who maintain strong links to clan totems, pride themselves on originality of design and utilise traditional bush materials and natural earth pigments and fibres.
Art styles produced by Elcho Island Arts artists includes:
- Bark paintings;
- Paintings on canvas (ochres and acrylic);
- Hand carved and painted hollow logs;
- Morning Star Poles or Banumbirr (ceremonial poles adorned with feathers unique to Elcho);
- 3D and sculptural works;
- Artefacts such as spears and clan poles;
- Yidaki (local didgeridoos);
- Fibre art such as baskets, bags, mats and jewellery; and,
- Limited edition prints and other works on paper.
Artists
Over the past 18 years Elcho Island Arts has worked with more that 350 Yolngu artists to create, exhibit and sell authentic Aboriginal art locally, nationally and internationally.
Today, more than 125 artists from Galiwin'ku and surrounding Marthakal Homelands are actively engaged in the production of high quality traditional and contemporary artwork which they sell directly to Elcho Island Arts for exhibition and distribution.
Elcho Island Arts artists are a very diverse group made up of men and women, young and old, from the more than 12 clan groups on and around the Island.
Tours
If you are thinking of visiting Elcho Island, Elcho Island Arts can assist in arranging a tailor-made cultural tour of one of the local homelands.
On these tours you can:
- learn about traditional Yolngu culture and language;
- explore unique lanndscape;
- hear traditional creation stories;
- gain insight into life on an Arnhem Land homeland;
- gather and sample seasonal bush foods and medicines; and,
- collect natural materials used in the creation of authentic Aboriginal artwork.
For prices, services, tour options and availability, please contact Aboriginal Art Connections.
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