Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku language, meaning ‘young woman’ and ‘young woman spirit being’.
Sometimes compared to the European notion of mermaids, yawkyawks are usually depicted with the tails of fish. They have long hair, associated with trailing blooms of algae, typically found in Arnhem Land streams and rock pools.
Name: Abigail Gurawiliwili Namundja
Language: Ndjébbana, Kune, Kuninjku
Community: Maningrida
Biography:
Abigail has beenan artist with Bábbarra Designs since 2012 and became a member of the Arts Worker team in 2023. She comes from a strong line of talented artists, her mother is the late J. Wurrkidj and her grandmother was the late Helen Lanyinwanga. Three generations of women from Abigail’s family worked together at Bábbarra Women’s Centre, sharing knowledge and creating new designs together. Abigail often prints Lino from her family collection, carrying on the memory of the women who came before her.
Abigail's totems are Gungura (Spiral wind), Kunwardde (Stone country rocks), Yawkyawk (young woman spirit) and Kandji (Jabiru) but she also depicts her mothers dreaming Ngalyod (rainbow serpent).
Abigail loves to celebrate the wildflowers of Arnhem Land in her work.
MERLEMERLE (BUTTERFLY) and BILLABONG BOLUNG (RAINBOW SERPENT) Wood Block print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes Composition as briefed by Carol Kamanj Liyawanga and Jay Jurrupula Rostron Printed by C. Satish and Tharangini Read more…
MERLEMERLE (BUTTERFLY) and BILLABONG BOLUNG (RAINBOW SERPENT) Wood Block print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes Composition as briefed by Carol Kamanj Liyawanga and Jay Jurrupula Rostron Printed by C. Satish and Tharangini Read more…
Bawáliba and Bush Flower This new design from workshops held in 2022 depicting Bawáliba (stone country mimihs) and dilly bags against a background of loosely placed bush flowers. Lucy has depicted her Bawáliba with werrkno (skin) textures. ‘Bawáliba is Read more…