Jill Daniels, The olden days, 60x60cm

• Aboriginal Artist - Jill Daniels
• Community - Ngukurr
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Ngukurr Arts Aboriginal Corporation
• Catalogue number - 486/19
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas 
• Size(cm) - H60 W60 D2  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - As displayed

The wild bush blackfella lives in the bush near the billabong. The billabong has a lot of fish and turtles, also they hunting for kangaroos in the hillside. One day the police tracker came along with a horse and saw these blackfellas living in the wild, they didn't want the police to come closer so they started throwing spears at the tracker. They police started shooting with their guns, some of the people started to run away and were frightened of the police tracker. Some of the trackers caught the blackfellas and put chains around their necks and arms and took them away to work for other white fellas."

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