Deborah Wurrkidj is a Kuninjku artist from the Kurulk clan whose country lies around the outstation of Mumeka in central Arnhem Land.
In this design she has depicted man-djarduk (red bush apples) – a sweet, crisp bush food that is a favourite to collect.
Man-djarduk fruits in kurrung and kunumeleng seasons, the build-up and first rains seasons.
Wayuk (Waterlily) Nymphaea violacea.
The stem of wayuk is a popular bushfood and the beautiful flower is enjoyed across Arnhem Land.
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.
This design depicts the story of the artist’s ancestral dreaming, the Djómi (Fresh Water Spirit).
The Djómi figure is a mermaid-like spirit with fish tail that lives in the freshwater stream that flows out to the sea cliff near Maningrida. Djómi is known to be a very powerful fertility symbol.
“If you go there, you can get pregnant easily. Djómi has babies, and they can give other babies too. The Djómi spirit is so powerful, that women can end up with multiple babies at once, twins or sometimes even more. The Djómi spirits lay eggs near the sacred freshwater stream in Maningrida. Inside the eggs are human babies as well as young Djómi. Men do not go near that swamp, because Djomi is so powerful that men might get pregnant there too. So men are too scared of that Djómi. When we visit the Djómi freshwater spring, we can hear young Djómi crying. They sound like normal babies crying, those Djómi spirits. They are looking for a mother. This Djómi is my dreaming, I got permission from my djungkay (ritual manager) to paint this Djómi design. For me I always ask my djunguy permission to paint, because that is our cultural way. This design also depicts the freshwater lily leaves and seaweed from the base of the sea floor.” Joy Galrbin
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.
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.
Janet has collected the Man-bardderre (Nutwood tree) nuts for a long time, all over the Arnhem land region. The artist describes collecting the nuts, which are available all read round, from the ground after they have fallen. They are then smashed against a stone to get to the kernal, which is eaten raw and tastes like a sweet peanut.
The tree (7-15m) has pendulous branchlets and green-yellow inflorescences which appear in the dry season. The nutwood tree has very long leaves. Sometimes people make spear-thrower handles from strips of wood taken from nutwood trees. People also make axe handles from nutwood, breaking off a small piece and carving it.
Janet has collected the Man-bardderre (Nutwood tree) nuts for a long time, all over the Arnhem land region. The artist describes collecting the nuts, which are available all read round, from the ground after they have fallen. They are then smashed against a stone to get to the kernal, which is eaten raw and tastes like a sweet peanut.
The tree (7-15m) has pendulous branchlets and green-yellow inflorescences which appear in the dry season. The nutwood tree has very long leaves. Sometimes people make spear-thrower handles from strips of wood taken from nutwood trees. People also make axe handles from nutwood, breaking off a small piece and carving it.
Artist Statement
(And the old lady Ngaldjorlhbo says:) ‘then I made this’
She was carrying her own dillybag and was walking slowly and she kept looking at Country. She made the rocks, the rivers. In the same way she made the fish and she also made the animals and the butterflies. She kept on creating all this while walking.
She made the water spirit mermaids from the sea so she kept on walking while creating all the things. She also made the mimih spirits – the spirit of the rocks. She also created Djarnbokkorn, the sacred dog. And then she created Ngalng, the yabby. Then she made the Namorrorddo – the shooting star spirit, who lives inside the hill. Then she made the freshwater mermaids and she kept on going and she made Ngalyod (rainbow serpent). Then she named those two humans, Kodjok and Kamanj. So she made all the humans
Story TBC
‘All that jungle around Mumeka, on the other side of the river.. that’s where we go looking for manme (bush food) like manyawok (cheeky yam) and karrbarda (long yam). The yawk yawk (young woman spirit) is holding a kunkaninj (digging stick), kun-madj (dilly bag) and all that manme.’ Jennifer Wurrkidj 2021