Editions Arts d'Australie - Stéphane Jacob, Paris
Bagu: Contemporary Aboriginal Sculptures from the Girringun Community, Queensland, Australia
Bilingual brochure French/English
ISBN : 978-2-9544576-3-5

Bagu were originally fire boards. They were traditionally made up of two parts, the Bagu (body) and the Jiman (stick). These objects had a sacred value because of the torrential rains that regularly fall in this tropical region. They were carried on the move by this nomadic people. Women were not allowed to handle them, and only one man designated by the group had exclusive responsibility for the fire, and had to ensure that it never went out, as the surrounding wood was usually damp. As well as cooking food, fire was used to keep warm, make weapons and was central to ceremonies. It also served to strengthen social ties, just like water sources in arid areas.

The Queensland Aborigines gave these planks an anthropomorphic shape in homage to the fire spirit - Chikka-bunnah - who, according to legend, threw burning sticks (jiman) across the sky. While in the past they were made exclusively of wood, the artists at this art centre, who are constantly experimenting with new techniques, have recently chosen to use clay to express themselves. In this way, women have been given the right to e