The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people. He is the one that created everything and gave us our culture, law and songs. He even gave us the dreaming/ totem of each child before they are born. Wandjina is the creator of all food on the land and in the sea. He’s the one who gave us Jaiya.
Name: Gabriella Barunga
Language: Ngarinyin
Community: Mowanjum
Biography:
Gabriella commenced her career as an artist in 1999 at Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre.
Gabriella ‘likes to paint every day. Painting is my work and my way of telling a story. I paint the Wandjina from the Wanalirri mob.'
Gabriella is a Ngarinyin woman. She grew up with her parents Biddy Ambi and Raphael Dolbyin at Bungarun, the leprosarium 10km's out of Derby. She was also cared for by Jack and Biddy Dale, 'they used to take us bush in the holidays. We went fishing and hunting kangaroos, snakes, turtles and crocodiles.'
Gabriella speaks about her father, 'he used to play the piano accordion in the Bungarun orchestra. He carved boab nuts too. One time he carved a bullock horn into the shape of a shark. I would like to have it in my house today. He gave it to Prince Charles when he came to Derby.'
Gabriella confirms that Mowanjum is her home. However, she likes to take the kids back to Pantijan for holidays because 'the town is too boring and the kids can fish and live on turtle and bush tucker and things like that.'
Gabriella has visited the caves where the Wandjinas were first painted. 'I thought these are my ancestors. It’s amazing.' Gabriella’s first heard about traditional law and ancestral stories through her mother and uncles.
Gabriella confides that Gordon her partner 'helped me paint.' Why paint? Gabriella replies, 'Like to keep the culture going, keep it strong, keep it going for the children and grandchildren.'
Exhibitions:
2016 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2015 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2014 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2013 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2012 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2011 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2010 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
2009 Darwin Art Fair.
Kimberley Art Prize.
Mowanjum Festival.
Status: Stock Festival 2024 T-Shirt Adult Gyorn Gyorn T-Shirt designed by Leah Umbagai for the 25. Anniversary of Mowanjum Festival in 2024.
Status: Stock bookmark individual bookmarks hand-painted by Mowanjum artists