Jack Kala Kala was from the community of Maningrida in Central Arnhem Land (northern coast of Australia), a region renowned for its eucalyptus bark paintings. By continuing to work on this traditional medium, he remained faithful to a practice whose roots lie in prehistoric rock art. Jack Kala Kala is considered one of the leading figures of this community, which he greatly influenced until his death in 1987.

Because bark is relatively fragile, no very old bark paintings have survived, and it is therefore unclear when this practice began alongside rock painting. The earliest documented bark paintings date from between 1838 and 1878. In any case, from the images painted on cave walls and sacred rock shelters thirty to forty thousand years ago to the works created today, it is the same cultural inspiration that continues to guide Aboriginal art in this region.