Contemporary Memorial Poles From Yirrkala

Few forms in global contemporary art are as visually striking and oddly familiar as larrakitj (memorial poles) from Australia’s north. Hollow, free-standing and intricately decorated, larrakitj arise from the human desire to shape the natural landscape into a symbolic marker, conveying a message to those who encounter it.

Historically, larrakitj were ossuaries, the final resting place for the bones of the dead. They were decorated with clan designs to identify and protect the spirit of the deceased, then erected at a specific location. Not everyone would be granted this honour: often it was restricted to high-ranking or ritually powerful members of a clan. Larrakitj is one of the Yolŋu terms for these objects; other nearby cultural groups refer to them as lorrkon. These objects have gone by a range of descriptors, most commonly ‘hollow-log coffins’, or ‘burial poles’. The term ‘memorial poles’ acknowledges their movement beyond the confines of the mortuary process, and into a broader role in both Aboriginal society and the contemporary art world.

This exhibition brings together larrakitj created by some of north-east Arnhem Land’s most consequential past and contemporary artists.

D’Lan Contemporary is honoured to present this remarkable exhibition on behalf of Dennis Scholl AM and Debra Scholl AM of Miami Beach. Their extraordinary collection is a testament to their passion for Australian First Nations art. This exhibition not only highlights the beauty inherent in l-arrakitj; it also offers a powerful opportunity to foster a deeper appreciation of the cultural lives and artistic practices of Yolŋu, who continue to shape the global contemporary art landscape.