Whilst the ‘dot and circle’ paintings of Central Australia, and the cross-hatched or rarrk barks of Arnhem Land are familiar to most viewers, it should be understood that they are only two aspects of a broad and diverse approach to artistic  expression practiced by Indigenous artists from Australia.

The Nyungah or Noongar artists

The Carrolup Mission Art style from south-western Australia was developed by a group of child artists, and the uncovering of their works has provided inspiration for another generation of Noongar or Nyungah people to paint in the ‘Carrolup style’. The emergence of this style of art is unique and cannot be linked to the work of the Hermannesburg School, or an imitation of central desert art. To evaluate the art style, one must take into account the specific socio-historical context within which it emerged.

Carrolup Native Settlement, now known as Marribank, is situated fifteen kilometres out of Katanning in Western Australia.  In 1940, the settlement was opened by the Native Welfare Department, in order to provide standard education and training for Aboriginal children in accordance with the aims of the assimilation policies of the time. As such, Carrolup became home to many Aboriginal children who had been removed from their families.  In the eleven years while the settlement was in operation, many of the children staying there produced highly sophisticated artworks.  Children aged between five years and fourteen years created intricate and unusual designs and stunning landscapes that astounded the art community.  Encouraged by their teacher and Principal Noel White, the students would wander through the local bush and make sketches of what they saw, later recreating them in the classroom.  Without any formal instruction, the work produced was highly distinctive in colour, form and movement.

The work was so unique that several collections were exhibited throughout the world receiving prestigious media coverage during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  These tours were organised by Florence Rutter who had first seen the children’s drawings exhibited in Perth in 1949. Through Mrs Rutter, the paintings were shown throughout the capital cities and New Zealand with exhibitions in the United Kingdom. In 1951, the settlement closed down and officially handed over its assets to the Baptist Union, to become the Marribank Farm School.

The importance of the Carrolup collection reaches far beyond its artistic worth. Though beautiful in their own right, they are also recognised as something quite unique to Noongar art.  Native animals and traditional ceremonies and dances are requently depicted in the landscapes which have very independent styles, portrayed in a contemporary way.  The style continues to thrive and inspire other Noongar artists, to keep their culture alive, a culture that lives on through the continued support of Mungart Boodja Art Centre in Katanning Western Australia.

The Gallery has some amazing pieces of fine art from two Noongar Artists who now live in Brisbane.

(Source: Kleinert & Neale, 2006. The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture. Oxford University Press. New York)