Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Mardarda and Njarlarla In Esther’s first screen design, she depicts the story of Mardarda (bones) and Njarlarla (fire sticks) carried in a dilly bag, reminiscent of traditional ways of the Ndjebenna people. ‘Back in the old days, our people would use a ‘bush lighter’ for lighting fires, which was two Read more…

Ngalyod Nest (Rainbow Snake Nest) “Kun-madj (dilly bag), Wak (crow dreaming) and Ngalyod (Rainbow serpent). This is the same story with these three things, they are connected. Through one manikay” – Belinda Kuriniya   Kun-madj (dilly bag) which is a large woven collecting basket. These large bags are often made Read more…

Wayuk ‘I always follow the footpath of my grandmother. I have too many stories of my grandmother. We went to the bush and ate bushtucker like yam, yabbie, barra, catfish and magpie goose. We didn’t come into town often, we were staying at Barrihdjowkkeng outstation. I learned how the old Read more…

Lorrkkon Marilyn’s first screen print design depicts the story of lorrkkon (hollow funeral logs). This the story of her great, great grandfather and grandmother who were bark painters, as well as also sacred lorrkkon painters. When designing this screen print, Marilyn was remembering her childhood living in a small house Read more…

Mardarda and Njarlarla In Esther’s first screen design, she depicts the story of Mardarda (bones) and Njarlarla (fire sticks) carried in a dilly bag, reminiscent of traditional ways of the Ndjebenna people. ‘Back in the old days, our people would use a ‘bush lighter’ for lighting fires, which was two Read more…

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 Read more…

Kunbowinjku (fresh water) Kunbowinjku (fresh water) – which is made of the noun prefix KUN-, the word for water (in its incorporated form) -BO and -WINJKU means ‘fresh, for drinking (as opposed to salt water) A new design made in 2022 featuring a mandjabu (fish trap), kunmadj (dilly bag) and Read more…

Gunga (Pandanus) Gunga refers to the weaving and production of goods from pandanus leaves and natural fibres. This design depicts fibre art from her homeland Galiwinku, Elcho Island. The fish trap, basket, string bag and pandanus mats are objects as well as ancestral spirits and are significant to the artists Read more…

Djenj dja Wayuk Djenj dja Wayuk (Fish and Waterlilies)