Don Djorlom
Biography
Don Djorlom (b. 1973) began exhibiting his delicate, carved mimih and yawkyawk figures in the mid 1990’s. He has since proved to be innovative with his remarkable precision, subtle finishes and delicate pointillism resulting in unique, elegant sculptures. Whilst his works have similarity to his peers Samson Bonson and Owen Yalandja who learned from Crusoe Kuningbal, Djorlom is self taught and developed his practice independently. Today he works closely with his wife artist and designer Sonia Namarnyilk.
Djorlom is traditional owner for Jina-wunya, Burarra country east of Maningrida, however he grew up on his mother’s country and now has strong connections to Kuninjku and Gurr-goni country. This has informed his practice, enabling him to depict mimih and yawkyawk.
Whilst he know works exclusively has a sculptor he began his practice as a figurative bark painter depicting various djang (totemic ancestors,sacred sites and designs) from his country, including barramundi, nail fish and prawn.
Past Exhibitions
Group
-
2019 Rendezvous, ARTKELCH, Freiburg, Germany
-
2019 Sculpture Bolkkime – Sculpture Today : New Works from Maningrida Arts and Culture, Harvey Art Projects
-
2018 Mardayin - Aboriginal Art von Maningrida Arts, ARTKELCH, Freiburg, Germany
-
2018 Mardayin – Aboriginal Art von Maningrida Arts, Art Kelch
-
2017 The Atavistic Nerve, Cooee Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
-
2011 Don Djorlom and Sonia Namarnyilk; Mimihs and Yawkyawks, Seva Frangos Art, Subiaco, Australia
-
2009 26th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
-
2008 Maningrida survey, Maningrida survey show, Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
-
2006 23rd Telstra National & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
-
2005 Lorrkons and spirit figures, Lorrkons and spirit figures from Maningrida, Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney, NSW
-
2005 Bark paintings and carvings from Maningrida, Bark paintings and carvings from Maningrida, Hogarth Galleries, Sydney, NSW
-
2005 Spirit beings and lorrkon, Spirit beings and Lorrkon, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
-
2004 Fibre and sculptures, Indigenart, Fremantle, WA, Fibre and sculptures, Indigenart, Fremantle, WA
-
2004 Maningrida fibre, Maningrida fibre: an exhibition of fibre sculpture, Bandigan art, Sydney, NSW
-
1996 Dreaming: Aboriginal Art from Australia, Netherl., Dreaming: Aboriginal Art from Australia Galerie Kouwenhoven, Delft, Netherlands
Collections
- Walonia Aboriginal Art, Netherlands
- Kluge Collection, Morven Estate, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA