Darrell Sibosado is a Bard man of the Lombadina Community, in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. He is a practising artist who combines the traditional Riji (pearl shell) designs of the Bard people with a contemporary art practice. During his career he has been active in the Aboriginal tourism, arts and cultural industries, and strongly believes in Aboriginal devised, implemented and managed programs and policies. Michael Riley was Sibosado's mentor during his producers' cadetship at Film Australia and the ABC, and became one of his closest friends. Sibosado also worked with Riley on his 1991 film Poison and appears in Riley's photographic series Sacrifice (1992), which was staged in Sibosado's backyard.
This image was included in the National Portrait Gallery's 2014 display of fifteen of Riley's black-and-white photographic portraits, made between 1984 and 1990, representing the vibrant urban-based Aboriginal arts community in Sydney. Sibosado later reflected on the portrait: 'I actually love that image. For me, personally, it's one of the best photos I've seen of myself. It's the image that reflects me from that time, makes me think about it, you know, who I was at that time … There was just him with a camera. He was so comfortable to be around … And I just trusted him to do whatever he wants.'
Purchased 2013
© Michael Riley/Copyright Agency, 2024
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Joanna Gilmour reflects on 25 years of collecting at the National Portrait Gallery.
Linda Burney, Brenda Croft and Darrell Sibosado share memories of Michael Riley and his photographic practice.
