Leon Ali

Ibis (Kernalk), c.2022  |  RKS0015

Acrylic paint on wood  |  51 x 7 cm

Leon Ali (b.1976) is from Gunbalanya, Western Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. He has been involved in several exhibitions and group shows over recent years and he works out of the Injalak Arts Centre.

"The Ibis, or Kernalk, is one of our animals, that we bininj (Aboriginal people) eat. The ibis lives in the forest, and when a fire has gone through we see it going around eating charcoal. Sometimes we see them going around on the floodplains, rivers and creeks. We see Birndu (Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellis) on the floodplain in the wet season, and flying in big flocks in the build-up season. There are two types of ibis, the one with black feathers (Straw-necked ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis) and the one with white feathers (Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus). We Aboriginal people eat both types of Kernalk, as well as Birndu."

Provenance

Injalak Arts Centre, Gunbalanya, NT

Red Kangaroo Gallery, Sydney, NSW

This artwork does not come with a photo of the artist holding the work.