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Buluwana (Kuninjku Spirit Woman) 2022

Abigail and her late mother, the renowned Kuninjku fibre and textile artist Jennifer Wurrkidj created this design together. Abigail said her mum was telling the story of Buluwana while they were sitting and drawing together.

“She’s an old lady from our ancestor creation time, before mimih spirits roamed the land. Her skin name is Wamutjan– she is from the Dhuwa moiety. When the mimih came to our country, she turned into stone out Yikarrakkal and Manmoyi way.

She lives in a sacred place, where she turned to stone she lives there now forever. She is an important woman for my people.

I draw her because she my dreaming. I can’t tell the full story about Buluwana, because it’s a little bit secret, but it’s okay for me to paint her and share these parts. My people can know the full Buluwana story, and the djungkay (caretaker) can tell the full Buluwana story too.” J. Wurrkidj

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.


© the artist / art centre