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Yawkyawk in Stone Country

Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku/Kunwok 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. There can be wet season yawkyawk and dry season yawkyawk. It is said that when men go out hunting, they sometimes hear the song of the yawkyawk and become confused, loosing their way back to country.

 

Categories: Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Name: Deborah Wurrkidj

Language: Kuninjku

Community: Maningrida

Biography:

Deborah Kamanj Wurrkidj is a highly regarded and versatile artist known for seamlessly adapting to new art forms while upholding her strong clan traditions. Since 1991, she has worked with Bábbarra Designs, alongside her late mother, Helen Lanyinwanga, and her late sister, Jennifer Wurrkidj. As a leading textile artist and an integral member of the Bábbarra Women’s Centre, Deborah’s contributions have been pivotal to its artistic and cultural output. Deborah is the Duwa djunkay for her mother and grandfathers ancestral dreaming stories.

Her work is vibrant, tactile, and intricate, drawing inspiration from the local natural environment and infused with deep cultural knowledge. Deborah's extensive body of textile art reflects the innovative artistic evolution occurring in Maningrida, which is also evident in her work across various mediums including bush dye silk, screen print and lino print.

In addition to her textiles, Deborah is world-renowned for her bark paintings, lorrkkon(hollow log), and fibre baskets. Since 2001, she has exhibited extensively across Australia, Europe, the United States, and India. Her work is included in most of Australia's major state gallery collections.

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