Ngalkunburriyaymi (mermaid) Modjarrkki (Freshwater crocodile) & Namurre Boko (two brothers – Jay Rostron Kuninjku people call mermaids yawkyawk but in my language, Kune we call them Ngalkunburriyaymi (pronuced Ngaal gun borro yay mee). The Ngalkunburriyaymi depicted in my artworks is from a place called Marra-yii (sp?). There are too many Read more…
Au-gujechiya (fishtrap) Au-gujechiya (fishtrap) sometimes portrayed with an-maka (cowtail stingray), rajarra (barramundi) and other fish inside. Elizabeth has permission from her djunkay to draw this historic and important object traditionally used to trap fish in rivers, creeks and estuaries. In the early wet season they swim upstream for breeding in creeks and Read more…
Kunred Kunkurra (Helen Kaminski) The artist, Janet Marawarr calls this design Kunred Kunkurra in her language, Kuninjku. Kunred means country, kunkurra refers the spiralling wind associated with the mini cyclones that occur around several sites in the Kardbam clan during the build up to the wet season. Marawarr often shares different versions Read more…
Namurre Boko ‘Bini-murreko means two brothers – big brother and little brother. Two brothers were really strong leaders and good hunters, sharing animals with different tribes.With those different tribe there were jealousy going on.Little brother went walkabout and heard the different tribe was talking about his tribe.They said ngarribin manre Read more…
Kunmadj Dora has depicted kunmadj (dillybag), which is a large woven collecting basket. These large bags are often made from the burney vine (Malaisia scandens), a strong, pliable plant that grows along the ground and into the canopy of monsoon vine thickets. The bags are used to collect heavy foods, such as Read more…
Djomi This design depicts the story of the artist’s ancestral dreaming, the Djomi fresh water spirit mermaid. The Djomi figure is a mermaid like spirit with fish tail that lives in the fresh water stream that flows out to the sea cliff near Maningrida. Djomi is a known to be Read more…
Namurre Boko ‘Bini-murreko means two brothers – big brother and little brother. Two brothers were really strong leaders and good hunters, sharing animals with different tribes.With those different tribe there were jealousy going on.Little brother went walkabout and heard the different tribe was talking about his tribe.They said ngarribin manre Read more…
Bawaliba & Bush Flower Her new screen print design ‘Bawaliba and Bush flower’ depicts the story of Bawaliba enjoying eating and collecting fresh bush flowers at Djinkarr.
Murnubbarr Karrolkan (Flying Magpie Geese) Murnubbarr (magpie geese) are a waterbird found in abundance in the wetland areas of Kakadu and western Arnhem Land. Murnubbarr are a sustainably hunted and enjoyed manme (bush food). They are known to fly long distances, particularly in the wet season.
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…