Roy Wiggan is from the Bardi group in Western Australia. Ilma is a term that refers to open ceremonies performed by the Bardi people and the objects used in these ceremonies. The Bardi’s country is situated north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula. Ilma ceremonies are composed and owned by individuals. These men are said to have received the songs and the form of the dances from rai spirits of dead men.
(Extract from Western Desert Appeal catalogue / assoc. with Papunya Tula exhibition, 2000)
This painting was purchased from Mary Macha in 2008 and was described as the only painting Ms. Macha was aware of that Roy Wiggan painted: Helen Read.