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Kunkale Wobe (Fishtrap Fence)

In the past, people made kunkarlewobe (stick fence fish trap) at a place called Kukadjdjerre. There’s a little fish there called ngadjbel (mouth almighty) that would travel far up the river and bring back all the larger fish: bilmu (barramundi), barrhmanj (saratoga) and bikkurr (catfish). When there were no fish, people would do a painting of ngadjbel on a tree behind the fence, leave it overnight, and the next morning there would be plenty of fish. As custodians for Kukadjdjerre, wurum (fish-increasing spirits) look after the area and also call out for fish when people ask.

Name: Obed Namirrkki


Language: Kuninjku



Biography:

Obed is an emerging artist at Maningrida Arts and Culture. He has learnt to paint under the tutelage of his father, the acclaimed senior artist Ivan Namirrkki.

In 2023 he was runner up in the National Emerging Artist Prize, with his bark painting Wak Wak, 2023

In 2024 Obed entered the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) for the first time for his Lorrkkon, Kunkurra. He was a finalist and took home the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Sculpture Award for the Lorrkkon.


© the artist / art centre