377810582136962

Published by on

Birlmu dja Komrdaw

Jennifer Wurrkidj is a Kuninjku artist from the Kurulk clan whose country lies around the outstation of Mumeka in central Arnhem Land.This image depicts important man-me (food) from freshwater environments on Jennifer’s country.

Wayuk (waterlilly) roots are called burdbarrk and are eaten fresh from the water or cooked on an open fire. The freshwater turtle (kormdaw) are a favourite cuisine – they hibernate on the floodplains during the dry season.

Various fish species including the barramundi (birlmu) as shown here are hunted with a spear or trapped inside a woven fish trap.

This lino print cloth was hand printed in the studio by Arts Worker and the daughter of Jennifer Wurrkidj, Abigail Namundja. Abigail is continuing the legacy of her mother’s history stories through continuing to print her work on her behalf.

Categories: Babbarra Women’s Centre

Name: Jennifer Wurrkidj

Language: Kuninjku

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

Jennifer Wurrkidj is a highly regarded textile artist who has been working at Bábbarra Designs since 2007. Her print designs often feature bush foods and food-collecting and reference the activities of ancestor beings and the ceremonial sites of her homeland, Mumeka.

Jennifer works at Bábbarra Women’s Centre alongside other members of her family who are also accomplished artists: her mother, Helen Lanyinwanga, and sister Deborah Wurrkidj. She is a daughter of Australia’s most highly acclaimed bark painter, John Mawurndjul, and she is renowned, in her own right, for her bark paintings, hollow logs and carved sculptures. Jennifer’s artwork has been exhibited throughout Australia and her textile art is in the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Related Posts

Babbarra Women’s Centre

377810582184310

Kunkurra (Spiral Wind) ‘My designs, they are all alive living up in my head’- Janet Marawarr Janet Marawarr has depicted kunkurra, the spiralling wind associated with several sites in the Kardbam clan. On one level, Read more…

Babbarra Women’s Centre

377810582184275

Kayawa (baby floor mat) and Lorrkon This design features the Lorrkkon tile by renowned artists and arts worker Raylene Bonson. In a hopscotch pattern, Joy has printed her own Kayawa (baby floor mat) in between.

Babbarra Women’s Centre

377810582184257

Yawkyawk and Wak ‘Yawkyawk swim underneath the rock. They always stay there. When the sun comes out they come out from underneath the river, make themselves warm. They sit and they look around. When they Read more…

© the artist / art centre