David Doyle

David Doyle is a Barkindji/Malyangapa man based in Broken Hill, NSW. His family is from the Menindee region of the Baaka, or Darling River. Following the traditions of his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, David is a carver and artist.

His family is from the Menindee region of the Baaka, or Darling River. Following the traditions of his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Doyle is a carver and artist. He makes carved emu eggs, mussel shell jewelry, and wooden objects including bowls and sculptures as well as Bronze and glass sculpture.

Doyle also is a knowledge holder of Barkindji bush medicines and edible plants. He produces medicinal lotions, tinctures and soaps using these same medicines. Doyle explains: ‘I use materials from the Baaka in most of my sculptures because I’m making something that’s part of myself, part of my culture and my history’.

“The turtle, or boomulooka in the language of my people, symbolizes longevity, resilience, and ancient wisdom. Yet, as the hand clenches a chunk of coal, smashing through the shell, we witness the stark reality of our dependence on fossil fuels. This destructive act represents our relentless pursuit of energy to power our modern lives, heedless of the damage inflicted upon our environment and the erosion of our ancient knowledge and beliefs. Just as the turtle bears the weight of the world, so too does our planet endure the burden of our unsustainable practices, threatening the very foundation of life as we know it.”

David Doyle is Helen Britton’s nominee for Treasures.

Echoes of the Shell: Fossil Fuels and the Fragile Balance of Wisdom, 2024
silver, anthracite
$8,000