MMeets—UNTOLD: Bark painting and cultural conservation

The practice of painting on barks for ceremony, and for the transmission of stories, law and culture, are an important and enduring practice in Yolŋu communities around Arnhem Land and the Top End. Bark paintings today are appreciated around the world as a powerful expression of the beauty and strength of Yolŋu culture. However, the practice of harvesting, producing, painting and sharing a bark painting is also an important act of cultural conservation and preservation. This hands-on Indigenous-led exploration on the making of a bark painting enabled audiences to learn how a bark is harvested and prepared for painting, how to create ochre paints and paintbrushes, and discuss ideas of cultural conservation and knowledge sharing.