Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

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Bamboo Shoot

‘I see bamboo everywhere where i go in Maningrida. I see it at every house – it’s a common house plant. When i see bamboo i get excited because i feel at home. Bamboo makes me feel good.’ Belinda Kernan

This fabric was created using the linocut printing technique. The lino tile has been carved by the artist in Maningrida, and has been printed by hand using a variety of colours and layers. The linocut technique ensures each textile piece is a one-off, limited edition piece. Bábbarra Women’s Centre supports the economic independence of Indigenous women in the Arnhem Land community of Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia. Designs created by the women at Bábbarra reflect strong cultural knowledge, which is passed down to younger generations through their textile design practice.

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Barramundi

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Gurrpurdu (Diving Bird)

A design by emerging textile designer, Charmaine Pascoe.

‘My Gurrpurdu (diving bird) was white. She flew from Gan Gan to Gapuwiyak and then to Yathalamarra. And then she flew to Gartji.

At Gartji two fresh water seaweed shoots, one long and one short were trying to keep diving bird down. They were saying, “Don’t go away you belong to this country”.  Diving bird said “No! I’m going to travel around to other country”.  She was flapping her wings and then those two seaweed shoots let her go.

Then diving bird flew to make water hole at Gamurra Gu-yurra. She tasted the water but it was salty not fresh water. Then she put her poo like white clay on the ground at Gamurra Gu-yurra. The while clay was used for painting, funerals and ceremonies.

Then she continued to fly to Ji-balbal where she put the white clay again and then from Ji-balbal she dived underwater to Gochan Jiny-jirra. When she got there she got out of the water and was flapping her wings. At the same time she was singing. She was using her wings to dry out so that she could fly to Nangak.’ Charmaine Pascoe 2020

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Kundalk (Grasses), Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) and Kunred (Country) – Woodblock

A beautiful indigo discharge dyed silk sari featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a special workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kunred (Country) by Janet Marawarr)

Kundalk (Grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) by Janet Marawarr 

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023

‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022

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Kundalk (Grasses), Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) and Kunred (Country) – Woodblock

A beautiful indigo discharge dyed silk sari featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a special workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kunred (Country) by Janet Marawarr)

Kundalk (Grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) by Janet Marawarr 

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023

‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022

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Kundalk (Grasses) and Kunred (Country) – Woodblock

A beautiful indigo discharge dyed silk sari featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a special workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kunred (Country) by Janet Marawarr)

Kundalk (Grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj 

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023

‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022

 

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Yawkyawk, Ngaloyd and Kundalk – Woodblock

A beautiful vegetable print cotton yardage featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kundalk (grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Yawkyawk (young woman spirit) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) by Jennifer Wurrkidj (Dec)

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023 ‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022

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Yawkyawk, Ngaloyd and Kundalk – Woodblock

A beautiful vegetable print cotton yardage featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kundalk (grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Yawkyawk (young woman spirit) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) by Jennifer Wurrkidj (Dec)

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023 ‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022

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Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) and Kunred (Country) – Woodblock

A beautiful vegetable print cotton yardage featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Ngaldjorlhbo (Mother of Everything) by Janet Marawarr

Kunred (Country) by Janet Marawarr)

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023

In conversation with reporter for Indian Link – Prutha Chakraborty, Janet Marawarr said:

‘I loved going to the village in the Sundarbans. I liked meeting the women and the little kids.

They were so excited to see us. They just started making things, they practicing [kantha]

stitch. We shared our Jarracharra book with them so they can see how we making our

designs.’

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Yawkyawk, Ngaloyd and Kundalk – Woodblock

A beautiful vegetable print cotton yardage featuring woodblock designs created in 2023 during a workshop with Tharangini Studio in Bangalore. This fabric features the following block designs:

Kundalk (grasses) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Yawkyawk (young woman spirit) by Deborah Wurrkidj

Ngalyod (Rainbow Serpent) by Jennifer Wurrkidj (Dec)

Printed in India by Tharangini Studio – Bangalore. This is a limited edition cotton yardage created as a result of workshops in India in January 2023. As part of their visit to India to open their exhibition, Jarracharra (dry season wind), Janet Marawarr and Deborah Wurrkidj visited Tharangini Studio, Bangalore’s oldest heritage textile studio. Established in 1977, Tharangini is woman-owned and specialises in organic, sustainable woodblock printed textiles. Tharangini’s skilled artisans worked closely with Babbarra in 2022 to hand carve some of babbarra designs old, Lino cut designs into woodblock. This initiative was supported by Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Victoria and Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation.

‘I’m excited to see my Lino design made into woodblock. We are going to spend Saturday printing with Tharangini studio. We are going to learn woodblock printing. I’ve been working Bábbarra Women’s Centre for 37 years since it started. I’ve been printing Lino on fabric.’ Janet Marawarr 2023 ‘Tomorrow we do printing Yawkyawk (mermaid spirit) and Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). My design is together with my sister. Together we started working at the Women’s Centre and Maningrida Arts and Culture, taught by our mother and grandmother. My sister is a sick one and she pass on her story to me – Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). I help my sister, I help carry the knowledge for her. That’s why we both have designs being made into woodblock.’ Deborah Wurrkidj 2022