37781054004775

Published by CompNet Systems on

Status: Stock

Kabono (river story) – $130 p/m

‘The freshwater birds are looking for manme (food), they’re down the river at Benembenemdi.The birds in my design are kurrubirlah, mandjangarli, barrak-barrak & ngalkordow. My dad told me about this story, he taught me how to do painting on the rock country and bark painting and hollow log. When I was 12 and 13 I started to paint freshwater birds that I saw at my country. My father painted lots of animals like kangaroo, bolong (rainbow serpent), bird, all kind of animal. He was a really good artist. This animal is from my country, place called Benembenemdi, that place is rock country with lots of sand and river.’ – Jay Jurrupula Rostron 2024. 

Freshwater birds showcased in this design:

‘kurrubirlah’ – bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius). Some Kune speakers have a variant pronunciation ‘kurruburlah’

‘mandjangarli’ – darter, (Anhinga melanogaster novaehollandiae).

‘barrak-barrak’ – little pied cormorant (Phalacrocax melanoleucas)

‘ngalkordow’ – brolga (Antigone rubicunda)

 

Design printed by Publisher Textiles in Sydney NSW

Thank you to the Bininj Kunwok Language Centre for assisting Babbarra Women’s with correct spelling and definitions of the freshwater birds showcased in Jay’s design. 

Categories: Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Name: Jay Jurrupula Rostron

Language: Kune, Kuninjku, Rembarrnga

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

Belinj Jay is a Kune, Dalabon and Rembarrngga woman from the Barappa clan. For Kune people, like many others across Arnhem Land, the world is divided into two moieties: Duwa and Yirridjdja. These moieties are woven into the kinship system guiding a person’s relationships and responsibilities to their family and the environment. Every tree, animal, bird, and body of water can be identified as either Duwa or Yirridjdja and this moiety system extends to stories, songlines and dreaming.

Belinj Jay works across multiple mediums including Lino print and etching drawing, screen printing and fibre art. Her work is illustrative and popular, portraying the ancestral stories of her freshwater homeland. Jay often depicts Modjarrkki (fresh water crocodile), birdlife from the wetlands including Kawk (Heron) and Ngalkordow (Brolga) as well as dancing and hunting mimihs. 

The Modjarrkki story belongs to the Barappa clan and is from the Duwa Country Dukala-djarranj and Kolorbidahdah located in the stone country of West Arnhem Land. The Songline and story has been passed down to Jay by her father (Dad’s brother) and is a true story, a story that really happened. This story is still practiced through bunggul during cultural celebrations and gatherings.

Jay's recent achievements include teaching a series of children's lino printing workshops at The National Museum of Australia during their 2023 NAIDOC Week events.

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