Eric Djorlom

Eric Djorlom

• Born: 1968
• Language Group: Kunwinjku
• Country: Oenpelli, West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Biography

Eric Djorlom is an artist from Oenpelli in West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. He belongs to the Kunwinjku language group and is known for his work with Oenpelli Arts in Western Arnhem Land. Eric employs traditional materials and techniques, creating art with ochre on bark and ochres on Arches paper. His work is deeply rooted in his cultural heritage and often features themes central to Kunwinjku cosmology and storytelling.

Themes

• Mimi Spirit: Representations of the Mimi spirits, which are ancestral beings known for their elongated forms and are often depicted in rock art across Arnhem Land.
• Lightning Man: Depictions of Namarrkon, the Lightning Man, a powerful ancestral figure associated with storms and lightning.
• Rainbow Snake: Illustrations of the Rainbow Serpent, a key ancestral being in many Aboriginal cultures, representing fertility, rain, and creation.
• File Snakes: Artwork featuring file snakes, which are often associated with water and the spiritual connection to the land and its waterways.

Medium

• Ochre on Bark: Traditional paintings using natural ochres on bark, a technique with deep historical roots in Arnhem Land.
• Ochres on Arches Paper: Modern adaptations of traditional methods, using ochres on high-quality Arches paper to create contemporary pieces.

Associations

• Oenpelli Arts: Eric Djorlom works with Oenpelli Arts, an art center that supports and promotes the work of artists from Western Arnhem Land, providing a platform for cultural expression and economic sustainability through the arts.