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Mandjabu

Kuninjku people traditionally make two sorts of conical fish traps. One called Mandjabu made from milil a vine. And another smaller one called manyilk Mandjabu, made from the grass manylik. The milil conical fish trap is bigger and stronger and used in tidal reaches of creeks to catch large fish. the smaller and lighter manylik trap is used in freshwater flowing creeks to catch smaller fish and freshwater prawns. Traditionally only men were involved in the construction of the large fish traps, but smaller children were used to crawl inside and assist.

Name: Apphia Wurrkidj


Language: Kuninjku


Community: Maningrida


Biography:

Apphia Wurrkidj learnt to paint in the Mumeka school of Rarrk from her father James Iyuna (dec) and mother Melba Gunjarrwanga.

She is part of the next generation who continue to produce the strong geometric rarrk that represents key Djang* sites on their clan lands. Common subjects of her work include the Dilebang (Waterhole) site, Wak Wak (Black Crow) at Kurrurldul and Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent). The intensity of her compositions and fine linework make her works stand out from those of her peers.

 

*The eternal and life-giving transformative power that accounts for every aspect of existence. 


© the artist / art centre