Adelaide(AU): An exhibition of over forty stunning bark paintings and cultural artefacts featuring Garkman, the Frog of North-East Arnhem Land, a cultural icon of the Dhalwangu clan.

Bridging the gap between natural and social sciences, Following Garkman introduces the Dhalwangu clan of North-East Arnhem Land, revealing their sophisticated system of living and their philosophy, as well as presenting the story of their region’s environment and biodiversity, through beautiful works of art, photographs, videos, maps and natural history specimens.

Our guide is Garkman, the totem frog that watches over the Dhalwangu. In their culture Garkman is represented by the green tree frog.

Cane toads spreading into Arnhem Land threaten the regional diversity of Aboriginal art by displacing their subjects: animals such as Garkman. Fearing the loss of both cultural heritage and biodiversity through habitat and species destruction, and younger Dhalwangu not following the traditional ways, Following Garkman documents the region, its people and their art.

Frogs play a critical role as indicators to the health of the world’s ecosystems, and in Following Garkman they also demonstrate the past, present and future of Indigenous culture in North-East Arnhem Land.

Original Source text: Valerie Bol, South Australian Museum