Ruby Djikarra Alderton (b.1993) is a Yolngu woman from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land. She was born in the township of Nhulunbuy and is the youngest daughter of award winning artist Dr Banduk Marika AO (1954-2021).
As a child, she spent lots of time with her mother while she was creating her art. Later, as a teenager she was then encouraged help her paint her bark paintings, create her prints and edition them with her. At just 18 she developed a talent for printmaking and has only recently begun painting on canvas and bark.
Her printmaking experience led her to working at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts Centre as a printmaker and arts worker for three years. Ruby then moved to Newcastle as an independent artist and during this time she worked with Artback NT & Buku with a touring exhibition from Yirrkala, Balnhdhurr - A Lasting Impression. She now lives in South Hedland, WA and works at Spinifex Hill Studio.
She was chosen to curate the exhibition Three in company with Jenny Fraser and Shauna Tilmouth at the Chan Contemporary Art Space in July 2012. In the same year she was chosen as a finalist in both the Telstra NATSIAA and Print Council Awards.
Ruby says "I am a Gumatj, Yolngu woman from a small community 800km’s North-East of Darwin, situated on the tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arnhem Land, Yirrkala NT. I am the daughter of Banduk Marika and the grand daughter of Mawalan Marika (1908-1967). There has always been a lot of influence from this side of the family when it comes to art, especially as most of the family are or have been known for their traditional art.
I grew up outside of this community in Darwin and in Newcastle so I’ve also had a lot of western influence. I enjoy working with my mother painting and helping her with her prints. It’s only been fairly recent that I started doing my own works.
My art has always has a huge influence from my Yolngu heritage. What I create is both old and new stories using traditional and non-traditional mediums. I only paint the Rirratjingu clan designs, which is my mother's clan and the designs and stories that I inherited. I love to be able to share my knowledge and culture whenever the opportunity arises."
Provenance
Spinifex Hill Studio, South Hedland WA
Red Kangaroo Gallery, Sydney, NSW
This painting does not come with a photo of the artist holding the work.
