Jill Daniels, Roper Bar, 60x60cm

• Artist - Jill Daniels
• Community - Ngukurr
• Art Centre/Community organisation - Ngukurr Arts Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 423/18
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas 
• Size(cm) - H60 W60 D2  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - As displayed

"The police tracker takes those prisoners to the top of the hills and they built the stone on top of the hills. And they worked very hard on that hill. While they were working on that hill some prisoner ran away. The policeman couldn't get them, they ran away and hid. And today when you go past Roper Bar, you can see the stone on top of the hills."

Jill lives with family in Ngukurr, she has been painting since 2003. Her sister is well-known artist Amy Johnson. Jill enjoys painting predominately ocean themes with sea animals depicted in bold bright colours

Ngukurr Arts Centre sits a stone’s throw from the banks of the Roper River in South East Arnhem Land. Ngukurr Arts, like the town of Ngukurr itself, is unique – bringing together people of many different clans and language groups.

There has never been one distinct school or style associated with Ngukurr Arts but what is typical of the work is boldness – the legacy of artists who have gone before, such as Ginger Riley, Gertie Huddlestone, Sambo Barra Barra and Maureen Thomson. Over time, Ngukurr artists have become renowned for their adventurous styles in interpreting stories and landscapes.

Today, artists are supported to explore new techniques. Each artist recontextualises the technique in relation to their own country and culture, to create works that are wholly unique.

In this place of many stones, diversity is a strength. Many artists of different influences work alongside each other balancing the old and the new, passing on the stories that link us all.

Text: Courtesy Ngukurr Arts Aboriginal Corporation