Marebu Deborah Wurrkidj is a Kuninjku artist from the Kurulk clan whose country lies around the outstation of Mumeka in central Arnhem Land. She is an accomplished artist working across mediums including painting, sculpture, weaving and textile design. For this design, Deborah Wurrkidj has depicted Marebu (woven pandanus mats). Works Read more…
Bush Dye The old plant dyes used in Europe like indigo, saffron, woad and logwood fell out of use with the Industrial Revolution. But here, a natural “paintbox” thrives. The most common dyes include:Yellow-orange: Mandjurndum (the bright orange roots of the Pognolobus reticulatus bush)Brown: Wirdilwirdil (the red bulb of Haemadorum Read more…
Bush Dye The old plant dyes used in Europe like indigo, saffron, woad and logwood fell out of use with the Industrial Revolution. But here, a natural “paintbox” thrives. The most common dyes include:Yellow-orange: Mandjurndum (the bright orange roots of the Pognolobus reticulatus bush)Brown: Wirdilwirdil (the red bulb of Haemadorum Read more…
Mandjabu (Fish Trap) “In old times people would make these mandjabu (fish traps) to go fishing. They are made with vine we find in the jungle. That old man, Anchor Gulunba, he showed me how to make these fish traps. I would sit there and watch him making them. We Read more…
man-kurdudjumuk – yellow colour The striking yellow – gold hue comes from the root oft of the man-kurdudjumuk (coelospermum reticulatum) which has been harvested from the sandy country near the flood plains. This laborious and tiring process requires digging up the entire shrub. The root is shaven into a pot of Read more…
Man-ngarre (Native Grasses) Elizabeth had a distinctive artistic style, depicting the natural world with loose, organic strokes. Her style was evident in her key designs Kun-ngol (clouds), showing the cloud formations over her floodplain country after the wet season, and the fine detail of Kun-kirh (mud ripples) depicting cracked mud Read more…
Man-ngarre (Native Grasses) Elizabeth had a distinctive artistic style, depicting the natural world with loose, organic strokes. Her style was evident in her key designs Kun-ngol (clouds), showing the cloud formations over her floodplain country after the wet season, and the fine detail of Kun-kirh (mud ripples) depicting cracked mud Read more…
Leaves Belinda is inspired by the plants, leaves, shells and flowers around her bottom camp home in Maningrida where she can sit and stare at the ocean and the bush. When asked about this print she said ‘it’s just leaves, they are everywhere around Maningrida.’ Belinda has a great eye Read more…
Manbirrbbirr (small bush flowers) In Kuninjku the name manbirrbbirr is used for a number of densely flowering shrubs and small trees including Verticordia cunninghamii, yellow flowering Austromyrtus species and also Acacia platycarpa which also has dense white. A green silk base fabric printed with blue, yellow, red, pink, white and orange to a rainbow effect.