Louis KARADADA

b. Australia, 1940; d. 2009.

Language group: Woonambol

Untitled (Wandjina figure and boomerang)

2000

etching on paper

2021.80

Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program

by Anouk Hulme in memory of Etta and Emmanuel Hirsh, 2021

About the artist and their work:

Louis Karadada was an artist from Kalumburu Country in the Kimberley region of Western Australia between the Prince Regent River and the King Edward River. Louis was part of an extended family of accomplished artists including his wife Rose, daughter Regina, his brother Jack and sister-in-law Lily Karadada. As an initiated elder Louis’ works were known for their depiction of the iconic Wandjina spirit figure that is synonymous with the Kalumburu Country of their ancestors and relate directly to the traditional Rock Art which is abundant in this region. Louis made paintings on bark and canvas and was also an accomplished printmaker.

Emmanuel Hirsh was on the management board and worked to help establish the Australian Print Workshop (APW) in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. This print was gifted to Emmanuel by the APW during his term as board member. From 1995 onwards the APW has made ongoing connections with remote communities of First Nations artists. Importantly, the APW travelled a mobile print workshop to expand and collaborate with First Nations artists based on Country.

This etching by Karadada was produced in Kalumburu with the artist drawing images on the copper plate before it was processed and printed in Fitzroy as a limited edition. Other editions of this print were sold to the collection of the National Gallery of Australia. More recently, Martin King, a master printmaker at the APW, travelled to Kalumburu in 2009 and facilitated the production of etchings by Lily and Regina Karadada.