Maningrida Arts & Culture

Rrajarra (Salt Water Barramundi)

Wak Wak “This is two black crows, baby and mother, there are living in the waterhole there, near to Kurrurldul. It’s a dream, longtime, but it’s still there. We call the crow Wak.”  – Melba Gunjarrwanga   This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida.The Read more…

Djomi There are two Dreaming ladies at Bábbarra billabong – Djómi and Bábbarra. These two are sisters: one freshwater ‘mermaid’ and one saltwater one. Big long head, big stomach and very skinny legs that Bábbarra. Their mother is the crocodile who lives in the Bábbarra billabong. Both sisters will give Read more…

Warraburnburn In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn. The Warraburnburn and the closely related Galabarrbarr spirit (owned by the Balkarranga clan) are also manikay song Read more…

Warraburnburn In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn. The Warraburnburn and the closely related Galabarrbarr spirit (owned by the Balkarranga clan) are also manikay song Read more…

Warraburnburn In Burarra and Gun-nartpa languages the figure represented in this artwork is generally known as a wangarra ‘ghost spirit’. For the Warrawarra clan ghost spirits have their own particular characteristics and their own name – Warraburnburn. The Warraburnburn and the closely related Galabarrbarr spirit (owned by the Balkarranga clan) are also manikay song Read more…

Kunkurra (The Spiralling Wind) ‘Kunkurra’, the spiralling wind is associated with several sites in the Kardbam clan estate. On one level, this painting can be interpreted as a depiction of the kinds of mini-cyclones common during the wet season in Arnhem Land, where the artist lives. In this painting, Kunkurra Read more…

Kunkurra (The Spiralling Wind) ‘Kunkurra’, the spiralling wind is associated with several sites in the Kardbam clan estate. On one level, this painting can be interpreted as a depiction of the kinds of mini-cyclones common during the wet season in Arnhem Land, where the artist lives. In this painting, Kunkurra Read more…

Ngokngok (Owl) Ngokngok or mun-ngokngok is the Southern Boobook owl. Their clan is Warrawarra and the are connected to witch doctors and traditional healers.  

Bachaja (Jabiru) Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Bachaja gu-jong waykin a-jarlaparda makukuya. The Jabiru makes its nest high in the tree The Jabriu is associated with the Yirrichinga