Name: Gabriella Barunga
Language: Ngarinyin
Community: Mowanjum
Biography:
Gabriella commenced her career as an artist in 1999 at Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre. Gabriella ‘likes to paint every day. Painting is my work and my way of telling a story. I paint the Wandjina from the Wanalirri mob.' Gabriella is a Ngarinyin woman. She grew up with her parents Biddy Ambi and Raphael Dolbyin at Bungarun, the leprosarium 10km's out of Derby. She was also cared for by Jack and Biddy Dale, 'they used to take us bush in the holidays. We went fishing and hunting kangaroos, snakes, turtles, and crocodiles.'
Gabriella has visited the caves where the Wandjinas were first painted. 'I thought- these are my ancestors. It’s amazing.' Gabriella’s first heard about traditional law and ancestral stories through her mother and uncles.
Gabriella confides that Gordon her partner 'helped me paint.' To the question why paint? Gabriella replies that she does 'to keep the culture going, keep it strong, keep it going for the children and grandchildren.'
The exploration of etching is a new medium for Gabriella as she has always been a painter.
Karram Muddu (whirlpool story) This is my Ungud (totem). I was named for this whirlpool: Karram Muddu, located near Augustus Island. My father, Sam Woolagoodja, named me. The Warndum Story goes that there’s a woman Read more…
Waanungga (sugar bag) Gudu Mungulu often paints Waanugga, which is a word that describes various forms of bush honey. The hives in which honey is stored are called ‘Sugarbag’, and can be found in trees Read more…
