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377810582372346

Yawkyawk Sari

Deborah Kamanj Wurrkidj b. 1971, Darwin, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Janet Kalidjan Marawarr b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK LA NGALNG (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT AND YABBY)

Owen Ngarridj Yalandja b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Joy Bulandjan Garlbin b. 1959, Maningrida, Australia DJÓMI (MERMAID)

Elizabeth Gochan Wullunmingu b. 1972, Darwin, Australia JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Woodblock print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes

Design brief by Janet Marawarr

Print composition by Anshu Arora and Prithi Pais

Printed by artisans at Tharangini Studio

Woodblock carving by Shri C.H. Sreeram and Shri S.K. Rajak

Fabric by Nandita Sulur

Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku and Kuninjku language, meaning young woman and young woman spirit being. Residing in fresh or saltwater, some Yawkyawk have long hair, associated with trailing blooms of algae. The female water spirit and fertility mermaid for the Kunibidji people is known as Djómi. Kuninjku artist Owen Ngarridj Yalandja is a senior member of the Darnkolo clan,custodians of an important Yawkyawk site near their outstation, Barrihdjowkkeng. The Yawkyawk djang (cultural histories) is central to the Darnkolo clan’s identity, for which they have spiritual and cultural responsibility. Yalandja was impressed by the carving technique on the woodblocks that returned with the team from India in 2023. He submitted a Yawkyawk design to Raylene Bonson for carving, and she prepared it for Tharangini Studio. Yalandja’s design is repeated throughout this sari. Yawkyawk swim underneath the rock. They always stay there. When the sun comes out they come out from underneath the river, make themselves warm. When they sit, they cry [sing] to themselves. Sometimes they go out to find the manme (food) and the mankung (sugarbag honey). – Janet Kalidjan Marawarr

By CompNet Systems, ago

377810582372345

Yawkyawk Sari

Deborah Kamanj Wurrkidj b. 1971, Darwin, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Janet Kalidjan Marawarr b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK LA NGALNG (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT AND YABBY)

Owen Ngarridj Yalandja b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Joy Bulandjan Garlbin b. 1959, Maningrida, Australia DJÓMI (MERMAID)

Elizabeth Gochan Wullunmingu b. 1972, Darwin, Australia JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Woodblock print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes

Design brief by Janet Marawarr

Print composition by Anshu Arora and Prithi Pais

Printed by artisans at Tharangini Studio

Woodblock carving by Shri C.H. Sreeram and Shri S.K. Rajak

Fabric by Nandita Sulur

Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku and Kuninjku language, meaning young woman and young woman spirit being. Residing in fresh or saltwater, some Yawkyawk have long hair, associated with trailing blooms of algae. The female water spirit and fertility mermaid for the Kunibidji people is known as Djómi. Kuninjku artist Owen Ngarridj Yalandja is a senior member of the Darnkolo clan,custodians of an important Yawkyawk site near their outstation, Barrihdjowkkeng. The Yawkyawk djang (cultural histories) is central to the Darnkolo clan’s identity, for which they have spiritual and cultural responsibility. Yalandja was impressed by the carving technique on the woodblocks that returned with the team from India in 2023. He submitted a Yawkyawk design to Raylene Bonson for carving, and she prepared it for Tharangini Studio. Yalandja’s design is repeated throughout this sari. Yawkyawk swim underneath the rock. They always stay there. When the sun comes out they come out from underneath the river, make themselves warm. When they sit, they cry [sing] to themselves. Sometimes they go out to find the manme (food) and the mankung (sugarbag honey). – Janet Kalidjan Marawarr

By CompNet Systems, ago

377810582372344

Yawkyawk Sari

Deborah Kamanj Wurrkidj b. 1971, Darwin, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Janet Kalidjan Marawarr b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK LA NGALNG (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT AND YABBY)

Owen Ngarridj Yalandja b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Joy Bulandjan Garlbin b. 1959, Maningrida, Australia DJÓMI (MERMAID)

Elizabeth Gochan Wullunmingu b. 1972, Darwin, Australia JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Woodblock print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes

Design brief by Janet Marawarr

Print composition by Anshu Arora and Prithi Pais

Printed by artisans at Tharangini Studio

Woodblock carving by Shri C.H. Sreeram and Shri S.K. Rajak

Fabric by Nandita Sulur

Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku and Kuninjku language, meaning young woman and young woman spirit being. Residing in fresh or saltwater, some Yawkyawk have long hair, associated with trailing blooms of algae. The female water spirit and fertility mermaid for the Kunibidji people is known as Djómi. Kuninjku artist Owen Ngarridj Yalandja is a senior member of the Darnkolo clan,custodians of an important Yawkyawk site near their outstation, Barrihdjowkkeng. The Yawkyawk djang (cultural histories) is central to the Darnkolo clan’s identity, for which they have spiritual and cultural responsibility. Yalandja was impressed by the carving technique on the woodblocks that returned with the team from India in 2023. He submitted a Yawkyawk design to Raylene Bonson for carving, and she prepared it for Tharangini Studio. Yalandja’s design is repeated throughout this sari. Yawkyawk swim underneath the rock. They always stay there. When the sun comes out they come out from underneath the river, make themselves warm. When they sit, they cry [sing] to themselves. Sometimes they go out to find the manme (food) and the mankung (sugarbag honey). – Janet Kalidjan Marawarr

By CompNet Systems, ago

377810582372342

Yawkyawk Sari

Deborah Kamanj Wurrkidj b. 1971, Darwin, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Janet Kalidjan Marawarr b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK LA NGALNG (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT AND YABBY)

Owen Ngarridj Yalandja b. 1962, Oenpelli, Australia YAWKYAWK (YOUNG WOMAN SPIRIT)

Joy Bulandjan Garlbin b. 1959, Maningrida, Australia DJÓMI (MERMAID)

Elizabeth Gochan Wullunmingu b. 1972, Darwin, Australia JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Woodblock print on handwoven silk, extract print with organic dyes

Design brief by Janet Marawarr

Print composition by Anshu Arora and Prithi Pais

Printed by artisans at Tharangini Studio

Woodblock carving by Shri C.H. Sreeram and Shri S.K. Rajak

Fabric by Nandita Sulur

Yawkyawk is a word from the Aboriginal Kunwinjku and Kuninjku language, meaning young woman and young woman spirit being. Residing in fresh or saltwater, some Yawkyawk have long hair, associated with trailing blooms of algae. The female water spirit and fertility mermaid for the Kunibidji people is known as Djómi. Kuninjku artist Owen Ngarridj Yalandja is a senior member of the Darnkolo clan,custodians of an important Yawkyawk site near their outstation, Barrihdjowkkeng. The Yawkyawk djang (cultural histories) is central to the Darnkolo clan’s identity, for which they have spiritual and cultural responsibility. Yalandja was impressed by the carving technique on the woodblocks that returned with the team from India in 2023. He submitted a Yawkyawk design to Raylene Bonson for carving, and she prepared it for Tharangini Studio. Yalandja’s design is repeated throughout this sari. Yawkyawk swim underneath the rock. They always stay there. When the sun comes out they come out from underneath the river, make themselves warm. When they sit, they cry [sing] to themselves. Sometimes they go out to find the manme (food) and the mankung (sugarbag honey). – Janet Kalidjan Marawarr

By CompNet Systems, ago

377810582372304

AN-GUJECHIYA (FISH TRAP) AND JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Elizabeth Gochan Wullunmingu b. 1972, Darwin, Australia

AN-GUJECHIYA (FISH TRAP)

JIN-MERDAWA (MERMAID)

Woodblock print and Lambadi embroidery on handwoven kala cotton

Pigment print with organic dyes

Design brief by Bábbarra Women’s Centre

Print composition by Anshu Arora and Prithi Pais

Printed by artisans at Tharangini Studio

Embroidery by M.Vasanthi & Sangeetha at Porgai Artisans Association

Woodblock carving by Shri C.H.Sreeram and Shri S.K. Rajak Fabric by Green Tailor Elizabeth Wullunmingu is an An-barra Burarra woman who grew up speaking Burarra language on her mother country at the entrance of the Blyth River in Arnhem Land, Australia. Her adopted mother, P. Galijan Dungudja, was a sewer in the Bábbarra Women’s Centre sewing room and a strong advocate for women in the community. Wullunmingu’s style is intricate, with delicate (shells) and dakarra (cockles) representative of the balaji (bush food) found on the beaches and saltwater estuaries east of Maningrida. The detailed hand embroidery is glorious, respectfully aligned to Wullunmingu’s own passion for sewing. Wullunmingu exclaims: I love to make Lino print fabric showing Jin-Merdawa (mermaid) . I like using bright colours. Jin-Merdawa live at Gupanga. Gupanga is located at the mouth of the Blyth River, Arnhem Land. It is a saltwater place. There must be more than one Jin-Merdawa living there? They eat fish, shellfish and seaweed. Sometimes they travel to the end of the river to find food in the ocean, but they don’t go far and always swim back to their home.

By CompNet Systems, ago

111982372426

Wak Wak

This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.

The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom of Kurrurldul Creek. The ‘Djimarr’ rock in the stream at Kurrurldul is said to move around and call out in a soft hooting tone at night. Both the stone itself and the area around it are considered sacred.

The imagery represents the rock mentioned above at the bottom of Kurrurldul creek, which is the final transmutation of the dreaming ancestor ‘Djimarr’. Finally, the pattern used here is also the crow design used in the sacred ‘Mardayin’ ceremony, which is a large regional patri-moiety ceremony now rarely conducted in central and eastern Arnhem Land.

By CompNet Systems, ago

111982372425

Wak Wak

This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.

The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom of Kurrurldul Creek. The ‘Djimarr’ rock in the stream at Kurrurldul is said to move around and call out in a soft hooting tone at night. Both the stone itself and the area around it are considered sacred.

The imagery represents the rock mentioned above at the bottom of Kurrurldul creek, which is the final transmutation of the dreaming ancestor ‘Djimarr’. Finally, the pattern used here is also the crow design used in the sacred ‘Mardayin’ ceremony, which is a large regional patri-moiety ceremony now rarely conducted in central and eastern Arnhem Land.

By CompNet Systems, ago

111982372424

Wak Wak

This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.

The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom of Kurrurldul Creek. The ‘Djimarr’ rock in the stream at Kurrurldul is said to move around and call out in a soft hooting tone at night. Both the stone itself and the area around it are considered sacred.

The imagery represents the rock mentioned above at the bottom of Kurrurldul creek, which is the final transmutation of the dreaming ancestor ‘Djimarr’. Finally, the pattern used here is also the crow design used in the sacred ‘Mardayin’ ceremony, which is a large regional patri-moiety ceremony now rarely conducted in central and eastern Arnhem Land.

By CompNet Systems, ago

111982372423

Wak Wak

This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.

The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom of Kurrurldul Creek. The ‘Djimarr’ rock in the stream at Kurrurldul is said to move around and call out in a soft hooting tone at night. Both the stone itself and the area around it are considered sacred.

The imagery represents the rock mentioned above at the bottom of Kurrurldul creek, which is the final transmutation of the dreaming ancestor ‘Djimarr’. Finally, the pattern used here is also the crow design used in the sacred ‘Mardayin’ ceremony, which is a large regional patri-moiety ceremony now rarely conducted in central and eastern Arnhem Land.

By CompNet Systems, ago

111982372422

Kunkurra (The Spiralling Wind)

‘Kunkurra’, the spiralling wind is associated with several sites in the Kardbam clan estate. On one level, this painting can be interpreted as a depiction of the kinds of mini-cyclones common during the wet season in Arnhem Land, where the artist lives. In this painting, Kunkurra also relates specifically to a site called Bilwoyinj, near Mankorlod.

At this site, two of the most important Kuninjku creation beings, a father and son known as na-korrkko, are believed to have hunted and eaten a goanna. They left some of the goanna fat behind at the site, which turned into the rock that still stands there today. The word Bilwoyinj, which is the name of this site, also refers to the fat of the goanna. Bilwoyinj site is also a ceremonial ground for a ceremony called Yabbaduruwa, a major ceremony owned by the Yirridja patrimoiety. The Yabbaduruwa ceremony is primarily concerned with initiation, land ownership and promoting the cyclical regeneration of the human and natural worlds.

By CompNet Systems, ago