Maningrida Arts & Culture

Manikurdorrk (Brolga)

Mat Mats can vary greatly. Artists commonly use a mix of naturally dyed and undyed fibre to create a striking variation of coloured bands. Some artists also incorporate different types of looping to produce different patterns and textured finishes. Each type of mat, fibre bag, basket and dilly bag has Read more…

Lorrkon (Hollow Log) The Lorrkon or bone pole coffin ceremony was the final ceremony in a sequence of mortuary rituals celebrated by the people of Arnhem Land. This ceremony involves the placing of the deceased’s bones into a hollow log which was decorated with painted clan designs and ceremonially placed Read more…

Wak Wak This painting depicts a sacred site at ‘Kurrurldul’, an outstation south of Maningrida. The ‘rarrk’, or abstract crosshatching, on this work represents the design for the crow totem ancestor called ‘Djimarr’. Today this being exists in the form of a rock, which is permanently submerged at the bottom Read more…

An-gujechiya (Fish Trap) To make fish traps and fish net fences artists firstly get vine (mirlarl) from the jungle and they put it in water for one night to make it soft. Next they start weaving it; they make rings for the inside to keep the fish trap’s shape. Artists Read more…

Mat Mats can vary greatly. Artists commonly use a mix of naturally dyed and undyed fibre to create a striking variation of coloured bands. Some artists also incorporate different types of looping to produce different patterns and textured finishes. Each type of mat, fibre bag, basket and dilly bag has Read more…

Gurruduk (Spear)

Maringgal (Spear Thrower) The Maringgal (Spear Thrower) is used to help propel a spear. These items are used for hunting and highly decorative pieces are used in ceremony. Also known as woomera; a flat type of spear thrower. The Burarra word for scorpion maringgul ji-jurlpa literally translates as ‘Spearthrower on-her-bottom-end’.  Excerpt Read more…

Warrakuy (Baracuda) Aboriginal bark paintings have a long cultural tradition, believed to extend back many thousands of years.In northern Australia, paintings on bark shelters in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land were stylistically similar to rock shelter paintings. The Aboriginal bark paintings were used to convey and illustrate stories which were Read more…

Marrchila (Saltwater Crocodile) Aboriginal bark paintings have a long cultural tradition, believed to extend back many thousands of years.In northern Australia, paintings on bark shelters in the Kimberley and Arnhem Land were stylistically similar to rock shelter paintings. The Aboriginal bark paintings were used to convey and illustrate stories which Read more…