Darrell Sibosado’s Ilgarr (Blood) 2024 is a dynamic expression of Bard ancestral lore, language and philosophy. Within the work, multiple symbols combine to assert the importance of ilgarr (blood). Symbolic of inheritance and identity, blood is a sacred life force. Sibosado’s designs consider the sacredness, or theology, of blood; what it means to draw blood; the discovery of blood by ancient beings; and, as the artist explains, ‘the different relationships with, and significance of blood in our lore and throughout our culture’.

Sibosado’s works are a contemporary continuation of riji (carved pearl shell) traditions. Created and traded over generations, riji are customarily worn by men for ceremony, and are a sign of knowledge, power and maturity. Sibosado translates their geometric, maze-like patterns and motifs, traditionally etched onto the inner surface of the pearl shell, into abstractionist artworks and installations. Inherited from his ancestors, Sibosado explains ‘these are the designs and stories we live by’.

The artist’s choice of material and technology is integral to demonstrating the ongoing adaptability and innovation of Indigenous cultural and artistic practice, while highlighting the contemporary relevance of Bard designs, stories and traditions.