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River and Rocks

An artwork collaboration between Deborah Wurrkidj and her mother H. Laninyinwanga. For the last 6 months, Deborah has been living on her partners Outstation of Kakodbebuldi where she is working from her home studio. From this location she is dying silk using locally harvested plants. The striking yellow colour came from cooking the root of the man-kurdudjumuk (coelospermum reticulatum) over a fire. This design depicts Marebu (pandanus mat). “This river we call Mangabo. It is near Gudjarrngarrl homeland of my daughters, Deborah and Jennifer Wurrkidj. We cross that river when travelling to Munmoy outstation. In the wet season, that water comes up and covers over those rocks, and when you look down there are rocks all under the water.” – Helen Lanyinwanga

Categories: Babbarra Women’s Centre

Name: Helen Lanyinwanga (Dec)

Language: Kuninjku

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

Helen Lanyinwanga was a senior textile artist who worked with Bábbarra Designs since 2008. She depicted strong themes of stone country and sacred rock in her designs. Helen had a key role mentoring young and emerging artists at Babbarra Women's Centre. She was the mother of Jennifer Wurrkidj and Deborah Wurrkidj as well as grandmother to Ruth Bindiedbal.

Helen was an accomplished artist in other mediums, notably basket weavings and prints on paper, for which she is represented by Maningrida Arts & Culture. Her artwork has toured the United States and been exhibited throughout Australia. Her textile art is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia.

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