This is my Ungud (totem). I was named for this whirlpool: Karram Muddu, located near Augustus Island. My father, Sam Woolagoodja, named me. The Warndum Story goes that there’s a woman spearing for a snake in that saltwater whirlpool.
Name: Robyn Mungulu
Language: Worrora, Wunambal
Community: Mowanjum
Biography:
Robyn Mungulu predominately paints Wandjina.
Robyn describes the Wandjina as;
'For us the Wandjinas are our creators. They gave us our part of the country, our language and our laws. So that’s what the Wandjina is for us. Within the North West Kimberley Region there are three main Wandjina’s; Namarali (for the Worrorra tribe which is the coastal group), Wanaliri (he’s for the Ngarinyin tribe the inland tribe up the Gibb River Road from Derby), then you’ve got Rimijmurra (which is the main Wandjina for the Wunambul Gaambera tribe up at Kalumburu / Mitchell Plateau area). So, three different tribes, three different languages, three different Wandjinas, but one big family.'
Robyn does most of her painting at Wijingarri Bard Bard (Fresh Water Cove) she prefers to work in the solitude of this environment. Her paintings are characterised by clean defined brush strokes and a strong sense of symmetry.
Robyn is a senior tour guide at Wijingarri Bard Bard and is highly skilled in sharing cultural knowleadge with visitors to the area.
Waanungga (sugar bag) Gudu Mungulu often paints Waanugga, which is a word that describes various forms of bush honey. The hives in which honey is stored are called ‘Sugarbag’, and can be found in trees Read more…
Wandjina & Dumbi (cloud and rain spirits & barn owls) The Wandjina is the creator spirit that belongs to us: the Wororra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbul people. He is the one that created everything; our culture, Read more…