• Aboriginal Artist - Janet Koongotema
• Community - Archer River/Aurukun
• Aboriginal Art Centre - Wik and Kugu Arts CEntre
• Catalogue number - 195-21
• Materials - Acrylic on canvas 
• Size(cm) - H120 W90 D2  
• Postage variants - Artwork posted un-stretched and rolled for safe shipping
• Orientation - As displayed

Artwork

Waank Alke is the story place for the dillybag. This is a Winchanam Clan story for the Wik-Mungkan-speaking people of the small Archer River near Aurukun. Janet is a custodian of this story place. You are not allowed to go near this place unless you are with Traditional Owners.

Artist

Janet Koongotema is 83 years of age and a highly respected Wik-Mungkan elder from the Winchanam Clan. She is extremely skillful with her hands having spent a lifetime using them to collect and prepare natural fibres to create dilly bags and pandanus fruit bowls. These string works are recognised nationally for their elegant and colourful forms.

Since 2010, Janet has adapted her weaving skills across to painting where her use of traditional knowledge is apparent in all of her works. She uses dramatic colour compositions to depict her tribal Country on the Big Archer River near Aurukun. A recurring theme in her paintings is the Dilly Bag Story of which she is Boss for.

Authenticity

All paintings come with a certificate of authenticity provided by the community-run Aboriginal Art Centre, not us, which is the gold standard for ethical purchasing and documentation.

We take great pride in offering high-quality, authentic Aboriginal Art pieces to you and in addition to our 120-day returns(they don't come back), we are pleased to offer a lifetime money-back authenticity guarantee to all customers who purchase Aboriginal Art from us, both past and present.

This guarantee covers any disrepute or wrongdoing in association with the authenticity of any Aboriginal artwork ever sold by ART ARK®. We understand that purchasing authentic Aboriginal Art is important to you, and we want to provide you with peace of mind in knowing that you are getting what you expect.

We take the authenticity of Aboriginal Art seriously and are committed to providing you with high-quality and genuine works of art. If at any time you have any concerns whatsoever about the authenticity of any art piece, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will investigate further. If we find any wrongdoing or disrepute in regards to the provenance or authenticity of any artwork sold by us we will promptly provide a full refund to you at any time in the future, be it in one year, or in ten!

Please find more information on authenticity here: 

Framing

All of our Desert Paintings, with the exception of the Stretched Desert Paintings Collection, are sent rolled.

Sending paintings rolled is the best option for their safe arrival and allows us to include free shipping, provide timely service, and maintain consistent and transparent pricing relating to the prices set by each Aboriginal Art centre.

The size of the painting listed relates to the painted surface. There is also a painted edge(2cm) and additional canvas for stretching.

A local framer will easily stretch the work for you at a nominal cost. Framers are everywhere and there is likely one just up the road. We recommend choosing one with good reviews and if you call ahead you will generally get a better-quoted price than if you turn up, painting in hand.

Please find further details and examples relating to framing here: