Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation

Kunkurra (Spiral Wind)

‘My designs, they are all alive living up in my head’- Janet Marawarr

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

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.

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.

Kabono (River Story)

The freshwater birds are looking for manme (food), they’re down the river at Benembenemdi.The birds in my design are kurrubirlah, mandjangarli, barrak-barrak & ngalkordow. My dad told me about this story, he taught me how to do painting on the rock country and bark painting and hollow log. When I was 12 and 13 I started to paint freshwater birds that I saw at my country. My father painted lots of animals like kangaroo, bolong (rainbow serpent), bird, all kind of animal. He was a really good artist. This animal is from my country, place called Benembenemdi, that place is rock country with lots of sand and river. – Jay Jurrupula Rostron 2024

Freshwater birds showcased in this design:

‘kurrubirlah’ – bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius). Some Kune speakers have a variant pronunciation ‘kurruburlah’

‘mandjangarli’ – darter, (Anhinga melanogaster novaehollandiae).

‘barrak-barrak’ – little pied cormorant (Phalacrocax melanoleucas)

‘ngalkordow’ – brolga (Antigone rubicunda)

Design printed by Publisher Textiles in Sydney NSW

OATMEAL LINEN BASE WITH BLUE, MAUVE AND GOLD PAINT

Thank you to the Bininj Kunwok Language Centre for assisting Babbarra Women’s with correct spelling and definitions of the freshwater birds showcased in Jay’s design. 

Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Rocks and Billabong)

Abigail has depicted the waterholes or Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Sacred Rocks and Billabong) that lie on the plains near Mankorlod, the country for which she is a traditional owner.

The waterholes remain wet throughout the year, even during dry season. This site is connected to the artist’s djang (dreaming), the ngalng (freshwater yabbie) and stone country. Mankorlod homeland is a three-hour drive from Maningrida in the kunwardde (stone country).

Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Rocks and Billabong)

Abigail has depicted the waterholes or Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Sacred Rocks and Billabong) that lie on the plains near Mankorlod, the country for which she is a traditional owner.

The waterholes remain wet throughout the year, even during dry season. This site is connected to the artist’s djang (dreaming), the ngalng (freshwater yabbie) and stone country. Mankorlod homeland is a three-hour drive from Maningrida in the kunwardde (stone country).

Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Rocks and Billabong)

Abigail has depicted the waterholes or Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Sacred Rocks and Billabong) that lie on the plains near Mankorlod, the country for which she is a traditional owner.

The waterholes remain wet throughout the year, even during dry season. This site is connected to the artist’s djang (dreaming), the ngalng (freshwater yabbie) and stone country. Mankorlod homeland is a three-hour drive from Maningrida in the kunwardde (stone country).

Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Rocks and Billabong)

Abigail has depicted the waterholes or Kunwardde dja Kunronj (Sacred Rocks and Billabong) that lie on the plains near Mankorlod, the country for which she is a traditional owner.

The waterholes remain wet throughout the year, even during dry season. This site is connected to the artist’s djang (dreaming), the ngalng (freshwater yabbie) and stone country. Mankorlod homeland is a three-hour drive from Maningrida in the kunwardde (stone country).

Gunga (Pandanus)

Gunga (Pandanus)

Gunga (Pandanus)

Gunga (Pandanus)