England Bangala

England Bangala grew up in the Milingimbi Mission in Central Arnhem Land and attended school spasmodically before working as a farmer and carpenter on his remote outstation Gochan Jiny-jirra (Cadell Gardens), and then later travelled west to work as a buffalo shooter in the west around Oenpelli. Having passed through the full Burrara/Gunardba initiation he possessed the most intimate knowledge of the higher initiation stories of his ancestors. Because of his stature he was required to attend and officiate and many of the tribal ceremonies in the central and western Arnhem Land regions where he was always at the forefront due to his wisdom and knowledge. He had been taught to paint by his father when young, and in time he became one of the areas’ most famous artists whose barks and works on Arches Rives paper was collected by most major public collections within Australia and many prominent overseas collections. Sadly, none of his 4 sons went through their age-grading ceremonies and therefore none of them have been allowed to paint and follow in his illustrious footsteps. As a result, his unusual style most likely died out with him. When he passed away more than 20 years ago. Bangala’s artworks hang in major art galleries and museums and are featured in many catalogues and art books. His work has featured in many landmark exhibitions including, Art of Aboriginal Australia, which toured Canada, between 1974 and 1976; Aboriginal Art at the Top, at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin in 1982; the important exhibition, A Myriad of Dreaming: Twentieth Century Aboriginal Art, in 1989; the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, and Keepers of the Secrets, Aboriginal Art from Arnhem Land in 1990; and Aratjara Art of the First Australians, in 1993/4. He was also a a finalist in the National Aboriginal Art Awards on numerous occasions. © Adrian Newstead